Functional morphology and structural characteristics of the hind wings of the bamboo weevil Cyrtotrachelus buqueti (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

Abstract

Research data of the microstructure and surface morphology of insect wings have been used to help design micro air vehicles (MAV) and coating materials. The present study aimed to examine the microstructure and morphology of the hind wings of Cyrtotrachelus buqueti using inverted fluorescence microscopy (IFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a mechanical testing system. IFM was used to investigate the distribution of resilin in the hind wing, and SEM was performed to assess the functional characteristics and cross-sectional microstructure of the wings. Moreover, mechanical properties regarding the intersecting location of folding lines and the bending zone (BZ) were examined. Resilin, a rubber-like protein, was found in several mobile joints and in veins walls that are connected to the wing membranes. Taken together, structural data, unfolding motions, and results of tensile testing suggest two conclusions on resilin in the hind wing of C. buqueti: firstly, the resilin distribution is likely associated with specific folding mechanisms of the hind wings, and secondly, resilin occurs at positions where additional elasticity is needed, such as in the bending zone, in order to prevent structural damage during repeated folding and unfolding of the hind wings. The functional significance of resilin joints may shed light on the evolutionary relationship between morphological and structural hind wing properties.