Battledore-wing fairy fly (Mymar sp.) female. Preserved specimen from antique collection on microscope slide. Focus stacked. Fairy flies (Mymaridae) are amongst the smallest insects on the planet, although they are wasps rather than flies. They are so tiny that air is relatively thick and viscous to them. Their stalked wings are rimmed with fine hairs, enabling them to effectively row through the viscous air.

Battledore-wing fairy fly (Mymar sp.) female. Preserved specimen from antique collection on microscope slide. Focus stacked. Fairy flies (Mymaridae) are amongst the smallest insects on the planet, although they are wasps rather than flies. They are so tiny that air is relatively thick and viscous to them. Their stalked wings are rimmed with fine hairs, enabling them to effectively row through the viscous air.

Battledore-wing fairy fly (Mymar sp.) female. Preserved specimen from antique collection on microscope slide. Focus stacked.
Fairy flies (Mymaridae) are amongst the smallest insects on the planet, although they are wasps rather than flies. They are so tiny that air is relatively thick and viscous to them. Their stalked wings are rimmed with fine hairs, enabling them to effectively row through the viscous air.