Originally, all winged insects had four separate wings as do all dragonflies today. But the fore and aft pairs of more recent types generally function as single flight surfaces, responding to the feel of moving air through the wonderful sail-setting of specialized flight muscles, and held together by ingenious devices such as the zippers on the wings of a wasp. Wings are important in identifying and classifying insects as there is no other set of structures in studying insects more significant. Each order and insect family has distinctive wing shapes and features. In many cases, even species may be distinguished from each other by differences of color and pattern on the wings.
Most insects fold their wings when at rest.
But dragonflies and some damselflies rest with their wings spread out horizontally. A few moths wrap their wings around their bodies. Many flies and most butterflies close their wings together straight upward over the back. Many insects can hover in one place as a helicopter does. Some expert insect fliers that often hover in one position such as dragonflies, sphinx moths, bee flies, and flower flies.