Venation
Venation is the name given to the arrangement (number and position) of veins within an insect's wing. Entomologists study the venation of wings and this is often used as a way of differentiating between otherwise similar species.
In early insects the veins running down the wing (longitudinal veins) were connected by a series of cross veins. Most insect groups have lost, or dramatically reduced the number of, these cross veins. However, some insects such as dragonflies and damselflies have wings that contain many cross veins.

A close up photograph of a damselfly, the veins in the wings are clearly visible.
Photograph by Quartl licensed under Creative Commons.
Related terms
- Alary
- Costa
- Dichotomous key
- Direct flight muscles
- Discal cell
- Indirect flight muscles
- Jugum
- Odonata
- Pterostigma
- Quadrilateral
- Vein
Related groups of terms
Related pages on this web site
Back to Glossary
If you have found this glossary useful please consider supporting the Amateur Entomologists' Society by becoming a member or making a donation.