Extended Data Fig. 9: Flexible wing root facilitates elastic storage during wingbeat and allows wing to passively respond to changes in lift and drag throughout stroke.
From: Machine learning reveals the control mechanics of an insect wing hinge
a, Top view of ventral stroke reversal in free flight. Red circles mark the estimated position of the wing hinge, dotted lines indicate the expected position of the wing if a chord-wise flexure line was not present. Images are reproduced from previously publish data32 from Drosophila hydei. b, Composite confocal image of the wing base on Drosophila melanogaster, indicating a bright blue band of auto-fluorescence consistent with the presence of resilin and existence of a chord-wise flexure line (dashed arrows). The image shown is characteristic of the 4 wings (from 4 individual female flies) that we processed for confocal microscopy.