1. Slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on mosquitoes etc.
   "The devil's darning needle hovered effortlessly over the pond, its wings glinting in the sunlight";
   - dragonfly, darning needle [N. Amer], snake feeder [N. Amer], snake doctor [N. Amer], mosquito hawk [N. Amer], skeeter hawk [N. Amer], darner [N. Amer]
    
2. Common climber of eastern North America that sprawls over other plants and bears numerous panicles of small creamy white flowers
   "devil's darning needle draped elegantly over the garden arch";
   - virgin's bower, old man's beard, Clematis virginiana

Derived forms: devil's darning needles

Type of: clematis, odonate

Encyclopedia: Devil's darning needle