The Right Tool for the Job: A Review of Insect Mouthparts as a Tool Kit for Biomimetic Studies

Few traits exhibit a more diverse collection of exemplary structure-function relationships than the mouthparts of insects. The global dominance of insects is attributed to their diverse food sources, which are matched by an array of morphological and chemical adaptations: a 'tool kit' for biomimicry. This review provides an overview of insect mouthparts that have contributed to biomimetics, including information about morphology and functionality in relation to particular feeding mechanisms. Themes in the groups of insects employed for particular biomimetic studies, including their lineages and feeding strategies, are identified along with suggestions for future studies, which together underscore the importance and promise of the development of novel engineered devices inspired by the unique 'tools' of insect mouthparts.