Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How do odonates use their front and rear wings independently?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Odonata
Male jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx splendens).
Unlike most insects that beat their four wings synchronously, odonates (the order Odonata) possess the unique ability to beat their fore and hind wing pairs independently. This independent control allows for three distinct flight modes:12
- Synchronous: The wings beat together, similar to other insects.1
- Alternating: The fore and hind sets beat in an alternating pattern.1
- Out of phase: The wings beat synchronously but are offset from one another.1
These variations in wing movement provide odonates with exceptional aerobatic capabilities, including the ability to hover, fly backward, and execute extremely tight turns that function as midair pivots. This sophisticated flight control is supported by large wing muscles housed within the insect's tilted thorax, which pull directly on the wing bases to facilitate movement.134