forewings
First pair aloft
Forewings are the front pair of wings on a four-winged insect.
In beetles, the forewings have hardened into protective covers called elytra.
In flies and mosquitoes, the hindwings have reduced to small knobs, leaving the forewings to do the work of flight.
The moth's forewings displayed intricate camouflage patterns.
Thin tissue sheet
- veinsBlood-return tubes
- costaRib-like anatomical structure
- pterostigmaOpaque cell on insect wing
- baseSupporting bottom structure
tip · span · shape · elongated · triangular · narrow · broad · transparent
Plates or weighing devices
- venationArrangement of veins
- eyespotCircular marking resembling an iris
- colorationSurface hue arrangement
- pigmentationNatural tissue coloring
iridescence · frenulum · hindwings · pattern · markings · cell · apex · basal
Hardened forewings of beetles
- hardenedMade tough or unfeeling
- chitinArthropod shell polymer
- coleopteraOrder containing beetles
- modifiedChanged in some way
thickened · leathery · thorax · articulation · cuticle · integument
Single wing oscillation
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- aerodynamicsPhysics of air motion
- flapOne-sided attached cover
- glideMove with effortless continuity
stroke · downstroke · upstroke · thrust · airflow · membrane · loading · maneuverability
Guarding against harm
- coveringLayer that shields or hides
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- thermoregulationMaintaining stable internal heat
- displayPresentation for viewing
courtship · warning · defense · stridulation · signaling · camouflage
membrane
Thin tissue sheet
- veinsBlood-return tubes
- costaRib-like anatomical structure
- pterostigmaOpaque cell on insect wing
base · tip · span · shape · elongated · triangular · narrow · broad · transparent · opaque
scales
Plates or weighing devices
- venationArrangement of veins
- eyespotCircular marking resembling an iris
- colorationSurface hue arrangement
pigmentation · iridescence · frenulum · hindwings · pattern · markings · cell · apex · basal · submarginal
elytra
Hardened forewings of beetles
- hardenedMade tough or unfeeling
- chitinArthropod shell polymer
- coleopteraOrder containing beetles
modified · thickened · leathery · thorax · articulation · cuticle · integument
wingbeat
Single wing oscillation
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- aerodynamicsPhysics of air motion
- flapOne-sided attached cover
glide · stroke · downstroke · upstroke · thrust · airflow · membrane · loading · maneuverability · hovering
protection
Guarding against harm
- coveringLayer that shields or hides
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- thermoregulationMaintaining stable internal heat
display · courtship · warning · defense · stridulation · signaling · camouflage