Odonata flight performance capabilities and behaviour and their body and wing form diversity are explored, and their interrelationships discussed theoretically and from observational evidence. Overall size and particularly wing loading appear predictably to be related to speed range. In Anisoptera at least, relatively short bodies and long wings should favour high speed manoeuvrability, though further information is needed. Medium and low aspect ratio wings are associated with gliding and soaring, but the significance of aspect ratio in flapping flight is less straightforward, and much depends on kinematics. Narrow wing bases, petiolation, basal vein fusion, distal concentration of area and a proximally positioned nodus – described by a newly defined variable, the “nodal index” – all allow high torsion between half-strokes and favour habitually slow flight, while broad wing bases are useful at higher speeds. The “basal complex” in all families seems to be a mechanism for automatic lowering of the trailing edge and maintenance of an effective angle of attack, but the relative merits of different configurations are not yet clear. There is serious need for more quantitative information on a wider range of species and families.

中文翻译：

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蜻蜓飞行：形态、性能和行为

探索了蜻蜓的飞行性能和行为以及它们的身体和翅膀形式的多样性，并从理论上和观察证据中讨论了它们的相互关系。总体尺寸，尤其是翼载荷似乎可以预见与速度范围有关。至少在 Anisoptera 中，相对较短的身体和较长的翅膀应该有利于高速机动性，尽管需要进一步的信息。中低展弦比机翼与滑翔和翱翔有关，但展弦比在扑翼飞行中的意义并不那么直接，很大程度上取决于运动学。狭窄的翼基、叶柄、基底静脉融合、区域的远端集中和近端定位的结节——由新定义的变量描述，“节点指数”——都允许半冲程之间的高扭力，有利于习惯性的慢速飞行，而宽翼基地在更高的速度下很有用。所有家族中的“基础复合体”似乎都是一种自动降低后缘并保持有效迎角的机制，但不同配置的相对优点尚不清楚。迫切需要关于更广泛的物种和科的更多定量信息。