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Zong L, Sun Z, Zhao J, Huang Z, Liu X, Jiang L, Li C, Muinde JM, Wu J, Wang X, Liang H, Liu H, Yang Y, Ge S. A self-locking mechanism of the frog-legged beetle Sagra femorata. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38282236 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Insect legs play a crucial role in various modes of locomotion, including walking, jumping, swimming, and other forms of movement. The flexibility of their leg joints is critical in enabling various modes of locomotion. The frog-legged leaf beetle Sagra femorata possesses remarkably enlarged hind legs, which are considered to be a critical adaptation that enables the species to withstand external pressures. When confronted with external threats, S. femorata initiates a stress response by rapidly rotating its hind legs backward and upward to a specific angle, thereby potentially intimidating potential assailants. Based on video analysis, we identified 4 distinct phases of the hind leg rotation process in S. femorata, which were determined by the range of rotation angles (0°-168.77°). Utilizing micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) technology, we performed a 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and conducted relative positioning and volumetric analysis of the metacoxa and metatrochanter of S. femorata. Our analysis revealed that the metacoxa-trochanter joint is a "screw-nut" structure connected by 4 muscles, which regulate the rotation of the legs. Further testing using a 3D-printed model of the metacoxa-trochanter joint demonstrated its possession of a self-locking mechanism capable of securing the legs in specific positions to prevent excessive rotation and dislocation. It can be envisioned that this self-locking mechanism holds potential for application in bio-inspired robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Zong
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- The Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application, School of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Zonghui Sun
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jieliang Zhao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengzhong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaokun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Congqiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jacob Mulwa Muinde
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianing Wu
- School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongbin Liang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haoyu Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application, School of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yuxia Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application, School of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Siqin Ge
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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