Hairy neck
This image, taken by a scanning electron microscope,
shows the microscopic hairs on a dragonfly’s neck.
These tiny hairs are also present on the back of the
head and act as a hook-and-loop system – like Velcro
- to secure the neck to the head. This ‘head-arresting
system’ helps to keep the head stationary when the
dragonfly is feeding or undergoing tandem flight
during mating. It is thought that it could help protect
the insect’s head from disturbance and steady their
gaze. The system is currently being researched as a
fastening material.
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