hind wings
Rear insect pair
Hind wings are the rear pair of wings on a four-winged insect, positioned behind the forewings.
In beetles, the hind wings fold beneath hardened wing covers.
In butterflies and moths, they're often smaller and may display different coloring than the forewings.
Some insects use hind wings primarily for flight while others use them for balance or display.
Winged insect from caterpillar
- mothNight-flying lepidopteran
- beetleHard-winged insect
- dragonflyLarge-eyed flying predator
- grasshopperJumping insect, long legs
locust · wasp · bee · cicada · mantis · cricket · cockroach · termite
Move with effortless continuity
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
- maneuverabilityEase of controlled movement
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- thrustForceful forward motion
flap · airborne · hover · soar · velocity · take off · landing · steering
Hardened forewings of beetles
- forewingsAnterior wing pair
- membranesThin flexible tissue layers
- venationArrangement of veins
- frenulumSmall tissue fold restricting movement
scales · costa · pterostigma
Profound biological restructuring
- moltingPeriodic shedding of covering
- pupaInsect's resting stage
- chrysalisPupal casing for metamorphosis
- imagoInsect's final form
instar · emergence · adult stage · cuticle · first flight
Thin tissue sheet
- camberDesigned surface curvature
- chordNotes sounded simultaneously
- surface areaMeasure of outer boundary
- spanDistance between endpoints
shape · coloration · pattern · transparency · iridescence · eyespot · trailing edge · leading edge
butterfly
Winged insect from caterpillar
grasshopper · locust · wasp · bee · cicada · mantis · cricket · cockroach · termite · lacewing
glide
Move with effortless continuity
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
- maneuverabilityEase of controlled movement
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
thrust · flap · airborne · hover · soar · velocity · take off · landing · steering · balance
elytra
Hardened forewings of beetles
frenulum · scales · costa · pterostigma
metamorphosis
Profound biological restructuring
- moltingPeriodic shedding of covering
- pupaInsect's resting stage
- chrysalisPupal casing for metamorphosis
imago · instar · emergence · adult stage · cuticle · first flight
membrane
Thin tissue sheet
- camberDesigned surface curvature
- chordNotes sounded simultaneously
- surface areaMeasure of outer boundary
span · shape · coloration · pattern · transparency · iridescence · eyespot · trailing edge · leading edge · aspect ratio