On the wings of a dragon(fly)

Applause IconFeb 03, 2019 • 4:21 AM UTC
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Dorit Hockman

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This January, I was very lucky to be back in Mozambique and I brought my Foldscope along in anticipation of more exciting microscopic adventures. Most days, in heat of the late morning before the cool sea breeze started to blow onshore, hundreds of dragonflies danced in the air above the dune forests. A few unlucky specimens got trapped in the house and I took advantage of these few to examine their wings on the Foldscope.
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A Red Basker ( Urothemis assignata)
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Possibly a Phantom Flutterer ( Rhyothemis semihyalina ) I was really intrigued by the architecture of the front and back edges of the wings. I assume these microscopic bristle-like structures play a role in the ability of these creatures to hover in place in the air.
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Back edge of the hindwing
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Front edge of the hindwing The beautiful stained glass-like blocks of colour bordered by red veins on the Red Basker’s wings looked even more brilliant at high magnification
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I was also very surprised to see hook like structures associated with the veins in the centre of the wings.
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