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Elastic joints in dermapteran hind wings: materials and wing folding
1School of Biological Sciences, Exeter University, Hatherly Laboratories, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4PS, UK.
Arthropod Structure & Development
|December 20, 2007
Summary
Earwig hind wings feature unique folding mechanics driven by resilin, a protein aiding in folding and preventing damage. Unfolding relies on cerci, a distinct mechanism in Dermaptera.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Insect biomechanics
- Structural biology
Background:
- Insects exhibit diverse wing structures and folding mechanisms.
- Dermaptera (earwigs) possess highly unusual hind wing venation and folding patterns.
- The internal mechanics of earwig wing folding and unfolding are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of resilin in the hind wing folding mechanics of the earwig Forficula auricularia.
- To elucidate the distribution and function of resilin in earwig hind wings.
- To understand the unique folding and unfolding mechanisms in Dermaptera.
Main Methods:
- Microscopic examination of Forficula auricularia hind wings using bright field and fluorescence microscopy.
- Identification and localization of resilin protein within the wing structures.
Main Results:
- Resilin was identified in distinct patches, dorsally in radiating veins and ventrally in the intercalary vein.
- Resilin distribution dictates wing folding direction and acts as the primary folding mechanism.
- Resilin stores elastic energy and prevents material failure, with its arrangement necessitating cerci for unfolding.
Conclusions:
- Resilin is the key protein driving the folding of earwig hind wings.
- The unique distribution of resilin and the reliance on cerci for unfolding represent a novel biomechanical strategy in insects.
- This study highlights a unique antagonistic mechanism for wing folding and unfolding in Dermaptera.
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