Hierarchical nanotopographies and fractal fingerprints of Anopheles mosquito wing surfaces

This study investigates the nanoscale surface morphology of Anopheles darlingi and Anopheles aquasalis mosquito wings using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and fractal analysis. High-resolution 3D AFM imaging revealed pronounced inter- and intra-species differences, with the ventral surface of An. darlingi (V-Ad) exhibiting the greatest roughness (Sq = 45.34 ± 3.20 nm) and height amplitude (Sz = 399.17 ± 65.46 nm), compared to the smoother dorsal surface of An. aquasalis (D-Aa, Sq = 23.54 ± 3.47 nm, Sz = 157.80 ± 17.91 nm). Spectral analysis via Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Hough transform identified directional anisotropy in An. darlingi, suggesting aligned nanostructures possibly related to aerodynamic or ecological adaptations. Monofractal analysis revealed that V-Ad surfaces had the highest Hurst coefficient (H = 0.96 ± 0.02), indicating persistent roughness, while dorsal surface of An. aquasalis (D-Aa) showed lower spatial correlation (H = 0.82 ± 0.03). These findings highlight functional nanostructural divergences among malaria vectors and underscore the utility of AFM and fractal descriptors in entomological and bioinspired materials research.