The fluid dynamics of aerodynamic force control in insects depends on how oscillating wings interact with the surrounding air. The resulting flow structures are shaped by the flow induced by the wing’s instantaneous motion but also on flow components resulting from force production in previous wing strokes and the motion of other wings flapping in close proximity. In four-winged insects such as damsel- and dragonflies, the flow over the hindwings is affected by the forewing downwash. In these animals, a phase-shift between the stroke cycles of forewing and hindwing modulates aerodynamic performance of the hindwing via leading edge vortex destruction, changes in local flow condition and the wake capture effect. This review is engaged in the significance of wing-wake interference for force control, showing that in damselfly model wings the strength of phase-dependent force modulation critically depends on the vertical spacing between forewing and hindwing stroke planes and the aspect ratio of both wings. We conclude that damsel- and dragonflies reach maximum steering capacity for body posture control when forewings and hindwings flap in close proximity and have similar length. The latter findings are of significance for the evolution and diversification of insect wings because they might explain why forewings and hindwings are little different in the order Odonatoptera.

中文翻译：

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豆娘模型机翼的气动干扰取决于行程平面间距和机翼展弦比

昆虫空气动力控制的流体动力学取决于摆动的翅膀如何与周围的空气相互作用。由此产生的流动结构由机翼瞬时运动引起的流动以及由先前机翼行程中产生的力和其他机翼在附近拍动的运动产生的流动分量形成。在四翅昆虫中，如少女和蜻蜓，后翅上的气流受到前翅下流的影响。在这些动物中，前翅和后翅的行程周期之间的相移通过前缘涡流破坏、局部流动条件的变化和尾流捕获效应来调节后翅的空气动力学性能。这篇综述涉及翼尾干扰对力控制的意义，表明在豆娘模型翅膀中，相位相关力调制的强度关键取决于前翅和后翅行程平面之间的垂直间距以及两个翅膀的纵横比。我们得出的结论是，当前翅和后翅靠近并具有相似的长度时，少女和蜻蜓在身体姿势控制方面达到最大的转向能力。后者的发现对于昆虫翅膀的进化和多样化具有重要意义，因为它们可能解释了为什么在齿翅目中前翅和后翅几乎没有什么不同。我们得出的结论是，当前翅和后翅靠近并具有相似的长度时，少女和蜻蜓在身体姿势控制方面达到最大的转向能力。后者的发现对于昆虫翅膀的进化和多样化具有重要意义，因为它们可能解释了为什么在齿翅目中前翅和后翅几乎没有什么不同。我们得出的结论是，当前翅和后翅靠近且长度相似时，蜻蜓和蜻蜓的身体姿势控制达到最大的转向能力。后者的发现对于昆虫翅膀的进化和多样化具有重要意义，因为它们可能解释了为什么在齿翅目中前翅和后翅几乎没有什么不同。