The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word EPHEMERAL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
E
P
H
E
M
E
R
A
L
More clues leading to the result EPHEMERAL
- Short-lived recording with Elgar's 1st and Mahler transcription
- Passing border in record time, heading for Laos
- Recording border line involves a long time? Not very long
- Short bursts help me, saving time
- Passing English pub on green shortly
- Passing hard prune stone, with Pepe’s bowels opening?
- Unfinished Harper Lee novel about months passing
- Brief record, hot gem mostly
- Record set by Border taking an age to get to fifty is short-lived
- Power held by male here, surprisingly short-lived
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Describing insects with wings/Describing insects with wings/of short span/of short span" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case describing insects with wings/describing insects with wings/of short span/of short span = ephemeral.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does EPHEMERAL mean?
EPHEMERAL noun- Something which lasts for a short period of time.
- Lasting for a short period of time.
- Existing for only one day, as with some flowers, insects, and diseases.
- (of a body of water) Usually dry, but filling with water for brief periods during and after precipitation.