The earliest flight evolved in insects, long before birds, pterosaurs, or bats took to the skies. Dragonflies and damselflies and their ancient relatives were the first to fly. Since then, over 400 million years of evolution have shaped the adaptations that support these insects’ aerial feats. While some use the power of flight to traverse the globe as long-distance migrants, others stay local, maneuvering around ponds, lakes, and rivers. Entomologist Jessica Ware explores the evolution of flight in dragonflies and damselflies, discussing the basis for their acrobatic and aerodynamic skills.
Ware is a curator at the American Museum of Natural History, where she serves as chair of the Division of Invertebrate Zoology.
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