1
|
Anderson A, Keime N, Fong C, Kraemer A, Fassbinder-Orth C. Resilin Distribution and Abundance in Apis mellifera across Biological Age Classes and Castes. INSECTS 2023; 14:764. [PMID: 37754732 PMCID: PMC10532044 DOI: 10.3390/insects14090764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The presence of resilin, an elastomeric protein, in insect vein joints provides the flexible, passive deformations that are crucial to flapping flight. This study investigated the resilin gene expression and autofluorescence dynamics among Apis mellifera (honey bee) worker age classes and drone honey bees. Resilin gene expression was determined via ddPCR on whole honey bees and resilin autofluorescence was measured in the 1m-cu, 2m-cu, Cu-V, and Cu2-V joints on the forewing and the Cu-V joint of the hindwing. Resilin gene expression varied significantly with age, with resilin activity being highest in the pupae. Autofluorescence of the 1m-cu and the Cu-V joints on the ventral forewing and the Cu-V joint on the ventral hindwing varied significantly between age classes on the left and right sides of the wing, with the newly emerged honey bees having the highest level of resilin autofluorescence compared to all other groups. The results of this study suggest that resilin gene expression and deposition on the wing is age-dependent and may inform us more about the physiology of aging in honey bees.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Anderson
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1400 R Street, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA;
| | - Noah Keime
- Biology Department, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Chandler Fong
- Biology Department, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | | | - Carol Fassbinder-Orth
- Biology Department, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Eraghi SH, Toofani A, Guilani RJA, Ramezanpour S, Bijma NN, Sedaghat A, Yasamandaryaei A, Gorb S, Rajabi H. Basal complex: a smart wing component for automatic shape morphing. Commun Biol 2023; 6:853. [PMID: 37591993 PMCID: PMC10435446 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05206-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Insect wings are adaptive structures that automatically respond to flight forces, surpassing even cutting-edge engineering shape-morphing systems. A widely accepted but not yet explicitly tested hypothesis is that a 3D component in the wing's proximal region, known as basal complex, determines the quality of wing shape changes in flight. Through our study, we validate this hypothesis, demonstrating that the basal complex plays a crucial role in both the quality and quantity of wing deformations. Systematic variations of geometric parameters of the basal complex in a set of numerical models suggest that the wings have undergone adaptations to reach maximum camber under loading. Inspired by the design of the basal complex, we develop a shape-morphing mechanism that can facilitate the shape change of morphing blades for wind turbines. This research enhances our understanding of insect wing biomechanics and provides insights for the development of simplified engineering shape-morphing systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sepehr H Eraghi
- Mechanical Intelligence (MI) Research Group, South Bank Applied BioEngineering Research (SABER), School of Engineering, London South Bank University, London, UK
| | - Arman Toofani
- Mechanical Intelligence (MI) Research Group, South Bank Applied BioEngineering Research (SABER), School of Engineering, London South Bank University, London, UK
| | - Ramin J A Guilani
- Mechanical Intelligence (MI) Research Group, South Bank Applied BioEngineering Research (SABER), School of Engineering, London South Bank University, London, UK
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - Shayan Ramezanpour
- Mechanical Intelligence (MI) Research Group, South Bank Applied BioEngineering Research (SABER), School of Engineering, London South Bank University, London, UK
| | - Nienke N Bijma
- Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Institute of Zoology, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Alireza Sedaghat
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran
| | - Armin Yasamandaryaei
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran
| | - Stanislav Gorb
- Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Institute of Zoology, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Hamed Rajabi
- Mechanical Intelligence (MI) Research Group, South Bank Applied BioEngineering Research (SABER), School of Engineering, London South Bank University, London, UK.
- Division of Mechanical Engineering and Design, School of Engineering, London South Bank University, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hillyer JF. Insect physiology: The mouthparts of moths and butterflies breathe through strategically positioned micropores. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R762-R764. [PMID: 37490861 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Insects employ a tracheal system to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the body's cells. A new study discovers a micropore-based mechanism of respiration in the coiling mouthparts of moths and butterflies, which allowed these insects to evolve intricately long mouthparts without also evolving proportionally larger body sizes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julián F Hillyer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37205, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Brasovs A, Palaoro AV, Aprelev P, Beard CE, Adler PH, Kornev KG. Haemolymph viscosity in hawkmoths and its implications for hovering flight. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222185. [PMID: 37122259 PMCID: PMC10130727 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Viscosity determines the resistance of haemolymph flow through the insect body. For flying insects, viscosity is a major physiological parameter limiting flight performance by controlling the flow rate of fuel to the flight muscles, circulating nutrients and rapidly removing metabolic waste products. The more viscous the haemolymph, the greater the metabolic energy needed to pump it through confined spaces. By employing magnetic rotational spectroscopy with nickel nanorods, we showed that viscosity of haemolymph in resting hawkmoths (Sphingidae) depends on wing size non-monotonically. Viscosity increases for small hawkmoths with high wingbeat frequencies, reaches a maximum for middle-sized hawkmoths with moderate wingbeat frequencies, and decreases in large hawkmoths with slower wingbeat frequencies but greater lift. Accordingly, hawkmoths with small and large wings have viscosities approaching that of water, whereas hawkmoths with mid-sized wings have more than twofold greater viscosity. The metabolic demands of flight correlate with significant changes in circulatory strategies via modulation of haemolymph viscosity. Thus, the evolution of hovering flight would require fine-tuned viscosity adjustments to balance the need for the haemolymph to carry more fuel to the flight muscles while decreasing the viscous dissipation associated with its circulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Artis Brasovs
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Alexandre V. Palaoro
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Pavel Aprelev
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Charles E. Beard
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Peter H. Adler
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Konstantin G. Kornev
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Salcedo MK, Ellis TE, Sáenz ÁS, Lu J, Worrell T, Madigan ML, Socha JJ. Transient use of hemolymph for hydraulic wing expansion in cicadas. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6298. [PMID: 37072416 PMCID: PMC10113369 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32533-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Insect wings must be flexible, light, and strong to allow dynamic behaviors such as flying, mating, and feeding. When winged insects eclose into adults, their wings unfold, actuated hydraulically by hemolymph. Flowing hemolymph in the wing is necessary for functioning and healthy wings, both as the wing forms and as an adult. Because this process recruits the circulatory system, we asked, how much hemolymph is pumped into wings, and what happens to the hemolymph afterwards? Using Brood X cicadas (Magicicada septendecim), we collected 200 cicada nymphs, observing wing transformation over 2 h. Using dissection, weighing, and imaging of wings at set time intervals, we found that within 40 min after emergence, wing pads morphed into adult wings and total wing mass increased to ~ 16% of body mass. Thus, a significant amount of hemolymph is diverted from body to wings to effectuate expansion. After full expansion, in the ~ 80 min after, the mass of the wings decreased precipitously. In fact, the final adult wing is lighter than the initial folded wing pad, a surprising result. These results demonstrate that cicadas not only pump hemolymph into the wings, they then pump it out, producing a strong yet lightweight wing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary K Salcedo
- Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Tyler E Ellis
- Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Ángela S Sáenz
- Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Joyce Lu
- Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Terrell Worrell
- Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Michael L Madigan
- Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - John J Socha
- Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Salcedo MK, Jun BH, Socha JJ, Pierce NE, Vlachos PP, Combes SA. Complex hemolymph circulation patterns in grasshopper wings. Commun Biol 2023; 6:313. [PMID: 36959465 PMCID: PMC10036482 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04651-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
An insect's living systems-circulation, respiration, and a branching nervous system-extend from the body into the wing. Wing hemolymph circulation is critical for hydrating tissues and supplying nutrients to living systems such as sensory organs across the wing. Despite the critical role of hemolymph circulation in maintaining healthy wing function, wings are often considered "lifeless" cuticle, and flows remain largely unquantified. High-speed fluorescent microscopy and particle tracking of hemolymph in the wings and body of the grasshopper Schistocerca americana revealed dynamic flow in every vein of the fore- and hindwings. The global system forms a circuit, but local flow behavior is complex, exhibiting three distinct types: pulsatile, aperiodic, and "leaky" flow. Thoracic wing hearts pull hemolymph from the wing at slower frequencies than the dorsal vessel; however, the velocity of returning hemolymph (in the hindwing) is faster than in that of the dorsal vessel. To characterize the wing's internal flow mechanics, we mapped dimensionless flow parameters across the wings, revealing viscous flow regimes. Wings sustain ecologically important insect behaviors such as pollination and migration. Analysis of the wing circulatory system provides a template for future studies investigating the critical hemodynamics necessary to sustaining wing health and insect flight.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary K Salcedo
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Brian H Jun
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - John J Socha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Naomi E Pierce
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Pavlos P Vlachos
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Stacey A Combes
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Reich MS, Kindra M, Dargent F, Hu L, Flockhart DTT, Norris DR, Kharouba H, Talavera G, Bataille CP. Metals and metal isotopes incorporation in insect wings: Implications for geolocation and pollution exposure. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1085903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities are exposing insects to elevated levels of toxic metals and are altering the bioavailability of essential metals. Metals and metal isotopes have also become promising tools for the geolocation of migratory insects. Understanding the pathways of metal incorporation in insect tissues is thus important for assessing the role of metals in insect physiology and ecology and for the development of metals and metal isotopes as geolocation tools. We conducted a diet-switching experiment on monarch butterflies [Danaus plexippus (L.)] with controlled larval and adult diets to evaluate the sources of 23 metals and metalloids, strontium isotopes, and lead isotopes to insect wing tissues over a period of 8 weeks. Concentrations of Ca, Co, Mo, and Sb differed between the sexes or with body mass. Ni and Zn bioaccumulated in the insect wing tissues over time, likely from the adult diet, while increases in Al, Cr, Cd, Cu, Fe, and Pb were, at least partially, from external sources (i.e., dust aerosols). Bioaccumulation of Pb in the monarch wings was confirmed by Pb isotopes to mainly be sourced from external anthropogenic sources, revealing the potential of Pb isotopes to become an indicator and tracer of metal pollution exposure along migratory paths. Concentrations of Ba, Cs, Mg, Na, Rb, Sr, Ti, Tl, and U appeared to be unaffected by intrinsic factors or additions of metals from adult dietary or external sources, and their potential for geolocation should be further explored. Strontium isotope ratios remained indicative of the larval diet, at least in males, supporting its potential as a geolocation tool. However, the difference in strontium isotope ratios between sexes, as well as the possibility of external contamination by wetting, requires further investigation. Our results demonstrate the complexity of metal incorporation processes in insects and the value of studying metals to develop new tools to quantify pollution exposure, metal toxicity, micronutrient uptake, and insect mobility.
Collapse
|
8
|
Lindroos EE, Bataille CP, Holder PW, Talavera G, Reich MS. Temporal stability of δ2H in insect tissues: Implications for isotope-based geographic assignments. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1060836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen isotope geolocation of insects is based on the assumption that the chitin in the wings of adult migratory insects preserves the hydrogen isotope composition (δ2H) of the larval stages without influence of adult diet. Here, we test this assumption by conducting laboratory feeding experiments for monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) including: (1) a starvation treatment where adults were not fed and (2) an enriched treatment where adults were fed a diet isotopically enriched in deuterium (~ +78‰) compared to the larval diet. The δ2H values of adult wings were measured at different time steps along the 24-day experiment. We also investigated intra-wing differences in δ2H values caused by wing pigmentation, absence of wing scales, and presence of major wing veins. We conclude that, although the magnitude of the changes in δ2H values are small (~6‰), wing δ2H values vary based on adult diet and insect age, particularly early after eclosion (i.e., 1–4 days). We found that wing shade, wing pigmentation, and the presence of wing scales do not alter wing δ2H values. However, wing samples containing veins had systematically higher δ2H values (~9‰), suggesting that adult diet influences the hemolymph that circulates in the wing veins. We hypothesise that there is a stronger influence of adult diet on the isotope signal of wings during early adult life relative to later life because of increased metabolic and physiologic activity in young insect wings. We argue that the influence of the isotopic contribution of adult diet is generally small and is likely minimal if the wings are carefully sampled to avoid veins. However, we also demonstrated that wings are not inert tissues, and that adult feeding contributes to some of the intra-population δ2H variance. We conclude that δ2H geolocation using insect wings remains valid, but that adult feeding, butterfly age and wing vein sampling generate an inherent uncertainty limiting the precision of geolocation.
Collapse
|
9
|
Mentink-Vigier F, Eddy S, Gullion T. MAS-DNP enables NMR studies of insect wings. SOLID STATE NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE 2022; 122:101838. [PMID: 36410100 PMCID: PMC9722638 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssnmr.2022.101838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
NMR is a valuable tool for studying insects. Solid-state NMR has been used to obtain the chemical composition and gain insight into the sclerotization process of exoskeletons. There is typically little difficulty in obtaining sufficient sample quantity for exoskeletons. However, obtaining enough sample of other insect components for solid-state NMR experiments can be problematic while isotopically enriching them is near impossible. This is especially the case for insect wing membranes which is of interest to us. Issues with obtaining sufficient sample are the thickness of wing membranes is on the order of microns, each membrane region is surrounded by veins and occupies a small area, and the membranes are separated from the wing by physical dissection. Accordingly, NMR signal enhancement methods are needed. MAS-DNP has a track record of providing significant signal enhancements for a wide variety of materials. Here we demonstrate that MAS-DNP is useful for providing high quality one-dimensional and two-dimensional solid-state NMR spectra on cicada wing membrane at natural isotopic abundance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Mentink-Vigier
- CIMAR/NMR National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, 1800 E. Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, FL, 32310, USA.
| | - Samuel Eddy
- Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Terry Gullion
- Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bellin N, Calzolari M, Magoga G, Callegari E, Bonilauri P, Lelli D, Dottori M, Montagna M, Rossi V. Unsupervised machine learning and geometric morphometrics as tools for the identification of inter and intraspecific variations in the Anopheles Maculipennis complex. Acta Trop 2022; 233:106585. [PMID: 35787418 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Geometric morphometric analysis was combined with two different unsupervised machine learning algorithms, UMAP and HDBSCAN, to visualize morphological differences in wing shape among and within four Anopheles sibling species (An. atroparvus, An. melanoon, An. maculipennis s.s. and An. daciae sp. inq.) of the Maculipennis complex in Northern Italy. Specifically, we evaluated: 1) wing shape variation among and within species; 2) the consistencies between groups of An. maculipennis s.s. and An. daciae sp. inq. identified based on COI sequences and wing shape variability; and 3) the spatial and temporal distribution of different morphotypes. UMAP detected at least 13 main patterns of variation in wing shape among the four analyzed species and mapped intraspecific morphological variations. The relationship between the most abundant COI haplotypes of An. daciae sp. inq. and shape ordination/variation was not significant. However, morphological variation within haplotypes was reported. HDBSCAN also recognized different clusters of morphotypes within An. daciae sp. inq. (12) and An. maculipennis s.s. (4). All morphotypes shared a similar pattern of variation in the subcostal vein, in the anal vein and in the radio-medial cross-vein of the wing. On the contrary, the marginal part of the wings remained unchanged in all clusters of both species. Any spatial-temporal significant difference was observed in the frequency of the identified morphotypes. Our study demonstrated that machine learning algorithms are a useful tool combined with geometric morphometrics and suggest to deepen the analysis of inter and intra specific shape variability to evaluate evolutionary constrains related to wing functionality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Bellin
- University of Parma, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/A 43124 Parma, Italy.
| | - Mattia Calzolari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna ''B. Ubertini'' (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy
| | - Giulia Magoga
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuele Callegari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna ''B. Ubertini'' (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonilauri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna ''B. Ubertini'' (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy
| | - Davide Lelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna ''B. Ubertini'' (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy
| | - Michele Dottori
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna ''B. Ubertini'' (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy
| | - Matteo Montagna
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Rossi
- University of Parma, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/A 43124 Parma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Nervo B, Roggero A, Isaia M, Chamberlain D, Rolando A, Palestrini C. Integrating thermal tolerance, water balance and morphology: An experimental study on dung beetles. J Therm Biol 2021; 101:103093. [PMID: 34879911 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.103093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The impacts of extreme and rising mean temperatures due to climate change can pose significant physiological challenges for insects. An integrated approach that focuses on mechanisms of body temperature regulation, water balance and morphology may help to unravel the functional traits underpinning thermoregulation strategies and the most relevant trade-offs between temperature and water balance regulation. Here, we focused on four species of tunneler dung beetles as important providers of ecosystem services. In this experimental research, we first quantified two traits related to desiccation resistance and tolerance via experimental tests, and subsequently defined two levels of resistance and tolerance (i.e. low and high) according to significant differences among species. Second, we identified morphological traits correlated with water balance strategies, and we found that desiccation resistance and tolerance increased with small relative size of spiracles and wings. High levels of desiccation tolerance were also correlated with small body mass. Third, by integrating thermal tolerance with functional traits based on desiccation resistance and desiccation tolerance, we found that the species with the highest survival rates under elevated temperatures (Euoniticellus fulvus) was characterized by low desiccation resistance and high desiccation tolerance. Our results suggest shared physiological and morphological responses to temperature and desiccation, with potential conflicts between the need to regulate heat and water balance. They also highlighted the sensitivity of a large species such as Geotrupes stercorarius to warm and arid conditions with potential implications for its geographic distribution and the provisioning of ecosystem services under a climate change scenario.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Nervo
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy.
| | - Angela Roggero
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Isaia
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Dan Chamberlain
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Antonio Rolando
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Claudia Palestrini
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Tögel M, Pass G, Paululat A. Wing Hearts in Four-Winged Ultrabithorax-mutant Flies-the role of Hox genes in wing heart specification. Genetics 2021; 220:6428543. [PMID: 34791231 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Wings are probably the most advanced evolutionary novelty in insects. The development of wings requires the activity of so-called wing hearts located in the scutellum of the thorax. Immediately after the imaginal ecdysis, these accessory circulatory organs remove haemolymph and apoptotic epidermal cells from the premature wing through their pumping action. This clearing process is essential for the formation of functional wing blades. Mutant Drosophila that lack intact wing hearts are flightless and display malformed wings. The embryonic wing heart progenitors originate from two adjacent parasegments corresponding to the later thoracic segments T2 and T3. However, the adult dipterian fly harbors only one pair of wing hearts and also only one pair of wings located in thoracic segment T2. Here we show, that the specification of wing heart progenitors depends on the regulatory activity of the Hox gene Ultrabithorax. Furthermore, we analysed the development of four wing hearts in the famous four-winged Ultrabithorax (Ubx) mutant, which was first discovered by Ed Lewis in the 1970s. In these flies, the third thoracic segment (T3) is transformed into a second thoracic segment (HT2). This results in a second pair of wings instead of the club-shaped halteres normally formed by T3. We show that a second pair of wild-type wing hearts is formed in the four-winged fly and that all wing hearts originate from the wild-type progenitor cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Tögel
- Department of Biology, University of Osnabrück, Zoology/Developmental Biology, Barbarastraße 11, D-49069, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Günther Pass
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Achim Paululat
- Department of Biology, University of Osnabrück, Zoology/Developmental Biology, Barbarastraße 11, D-49069, Osnabrück, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Bilinski T, Bylak A, Kukuła K, Zadrag-Tecza R. Senescence as a trade-off between successful land colonisation and longevity: critical review and analysis of a hypothesis. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12286. [PMID: 34760360 PMCID: PMC8570163 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most common terrestrial animal clades exhibit senescence, suggesting strong adaptive value of this trait. However, there is little support for senescence correlated with specific adaptations. Nevertheless, insects, mammals, and birds, which are the most common terrestrial animal clades that show symptoms of senescence, evolved from clades that predominantly did not show symptoms of senescence. Thus, we aimed to examine senescence in the context of the ecology and life histories of the main clades of animals, including humans, and to formulate hypotheses to explain the causes and origin of senescence in the major clades of terrestrial animals. METHODOLOGY We reviewed literature from 1950 to 2020 concerning life expectancy, the existence of senescence, and the adaptive characteristics of the major groups of animals. We then proposed a relationship between senescence and environmental factors, considering the biology of these groups of animals. We constructed a model showing the phylogenetic relationships between animal clades in the context of the major stages of evolution, distinguishing between senescent and biologically 'immortal' clades of animals. Finally, we synthesised current data on senescence with the most important concepts and theories explaining the origin and mechanisms of senescence. Although this categorisation into different senescent phenotypes may be simplistic, we used this to propose a framework for understanding senescence. RESULTS We found that terrestrial mammals, insects, and birds show senescence, even though they likely evolved from non-senescent ancestors. Moreover, secondarily aquatic animals show lower rate of senescence than their terrestrial counterparts. Based on the possible life histories of these groups and the analysis of the most important factors affecting the transition from a non-senescent to senescent phenotype, we conclude that aging has evolved, not as a direct effect, but as a correlated response of selection on developmental strategies, and that this occurred separately within each clade. Adoption of specific life history strategies could thus have far-reaching effects in terms of senescence and lifespan. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis strongly suggests that senescence may have emerged as a side effect of the evolution of adaptive features that allowed the colonisation of land. Senescence in mammals may be a compromise between land colonisation and longevity. This hypothesis, is supported by palaeobiological and ecological evidence. We hope that the development of new research methodologies and the availability of more data could be used to test this hypothesis and shed greater light on the evolution of senescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Bilinski
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology and Agriculture, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Aneta Bylak
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection; Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Land Management and Environmental Protection, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Kukuła
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection; Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Land Management and Environmental Protection, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Renata Zadrag-Tecza
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Schachat SR, Boyce CK, Payne JL, Lentink D. Lepidoptera demonstrate the relevance of Murray's Law to circulatory systems with tidal flow. BMC Biol 2021; 19:204. [PMID: 34526028 PMCID: PMC8444497 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01130-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Murray's Law, which describes the branching architecture of bifurcating tubes, predicts the morphology of vessels in many amniotes and plants. Here, we use insects to explore the universality of Murray's Law and to evaluate its predictive power for the wing venation of Lepidoptera, one of the most diverse insect orders. Lepidoptera are particularly relevant to the universality of Murray's Law because their wing veins have tidal, or oscillatory, flow of air and hemolymph. We examined over one thousand wings representing 667 species of Lepidoptera. RESULTS We found that veins with a diameter above approximately 50 microns conform to Murray's Law, with veins below 50 microns in diameter becoming less and less likely to conform to Murray's Law as they narrow. The minute veins that are most likely to deviate from Murray's Law are also the most likely to have atrophied, which prevents efficient fluid transport regardless of branching architecture. However, the veins of many taxa continue to branch distally to the areas where they atrophied, and these too conform to Murray's Law at larger diameters (e.g., Sesiidae). CONCLUSIONS This finding suggests that conformity to Murray's Law in larger taxa may reflect requirements for structural support as much as fluid transport, or may indicate that selective pressures for fluid transport are stronger during the pupal stage-during wing development prior to vein atrophy-than the adult stage. Our results increase the taxonomic scope of Murray's Law and provide greater clarity about the relevance of body size.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - C. Kevin Boyce
- Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Jonathan L. Payne
- Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - David Lentink
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Reich MS, Flockhart DTT, Norris DR, Hu L, Bataille CP. Continuous‐surface geographic assignment of migratory animals using strontium isotopes: A case study with monarch butterflies. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Megan S. Reich
- Department of Biology University of Ottawa Ottawa ON Canada
| | - D. T. Tyler Flockhart
- Appalachian Laboratory University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Frostburg MD USA
| | - D. Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph ON Canada
- Nature Conservancy of Canada Toronto ON Canada
| | - Lihai Hu
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Ottawa Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Clément P. Bataille
- Department of Biology University of Ottawa Ottawa ON Canada
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Ottawa Ottawa ON Canada
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Weber AI, Daniel TL, Brunton BW. Wing structure and neural encoding jointly determine sensing strategies in insect flight. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009195. [PMID: 34379622 PMCID: PMC8382179 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals rely on sensory feedback to generate accurate, reliable movements. In many flying insects, strain-sensitive neurons on the wings provide rapid feedback that is critical for stable flight control. While the impacts of wing structure on aerodynamic performance have been widely studied, the impacts of wing structure on sensing are largely unexplored. In this paper, we show how the structural properties of the wing and encoding by mechanosensory neurons interact to jointly determine optimal sensing strategies and performance. Specifically, we examine how neural sensors can be placed effectively on a flapping wing to detect body rotation about different axes, using a computational wing model with varying flexural stiffness. A small set of mechanosensors, conveying strain information at key locations with a single action potential per wingbeat, enable accurate detection of body rotation. Optimal sensor locations are concentrated at either the wing base or the wing tip, and they transition sharply as a function of both wing stiffness and neural threshold. Moreover, the sensing strategy and performance is robust to both external disturbances and sensor loss. Typically, only five sensors are needed to achieve near-peak accuracy, with a single sensor often providing accuracy well above chance. Our results show that small-amplitude, dynamic signals can be extracted efficiently with spatially and temporally sparse sensors in the context of flight. The demonstrated interaction of wing structure and neural encoding properties points to the importance of understanding each in the context of their joint evolution. In addition to generating forces for flight, insect wings also serve an important role as sensory structures, providing rapid feedback about wing bending that is used to stabilize flight. While much is known about how wing structure affects aerodynamic performance, the effects of wing structure on sensing remain unexplored. Using a computational model of a flapping wing, we examine how sensing strategies depend on wing stiffness and sensor properties. We show that body rotations can be accurately detected with a small number of sensors on the wing across a wide range of conditions. Optimal sensor locations are clustered at either the wing base or wing tip, depending on a combination of wing stiffness and sensor properties. Moreover, sensing performance is robust to multiple kinds of perturbations. Our work provides a basis for understanding how wing structure impacts incoming sensory information during flight.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alison I. Weber
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Thomas L. Daniel
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Bingni W. Brunton
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
The damping and structural properties of dragonfly and damselfly wings during dynamic movement. Commun Biol 2021; 4:737. [PMID: 34131288 PMCID: PMC8206215 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02263-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
For flying insects, stability is essential to maintain the orientation and direction of motion in flight. Flight instability is caused by a variety of factors, such as intended abrupt flight manoeuvres and unwanted environmental disturbances. Although wings play a key role in insect flight stability, little is known about their oscillatory behaviour. Here we present the first systematic study of insect wing damping. We show that different wing regions have almost identical damping properties. The mean damping ratio of fresh wings is noticeably higher than that previously thought. Flight muscles and hemolymph have almost no 'direct' influence on the wing damping. In contrast, the involvement of the wing hinge can significantly increase damping. We also show that although desiccation reduces the wing damping ratio, rehydration leads to full recovery of damping properties after desiccation. Hence, we expect hemolymph to influence the wing damping indirectly, by continuously hydrating the wing system.
Collapse
|
18
|
Isakhani H, Xiong C, Chen W, Yue S. Towards locust-inspired gliding wing prototypes for micro aerial vehicle applications. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:202253. [PMID: 34234953 PMCID: PMC8242835 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.202253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In aviation, gliding is the most economical mode of flight explicitly appreciated by natural fliers. They achieve it by high-performance wing structures evolved over millions of years in nature. Among other prehistoric beings, locust is a perfect example of such natural glider capable of endured transatlantic flights that could inspire a practical solution to achieve similar capabilities on micro aerial vehicles. An investigation in this study demonstrates the effects of haemolymph on the flexibility of several flying insect wings proving that many species exist with further simplistic yet well-designed wing structures. However, biomimicry of such aerodynamic and structural properties is hindered by the limitations of modern as well as conventional fabrication technologies in terms of availability and precision, respectively. Therefore, here we adopt finite-element analysis to investigate the manufacturing-worthiness of a three-dimensional digitally reconstructed locust wing, and propose novel combinations of economical and readily available manufacturing methods to develop the model into prototypes that are structurally similar to their counterparts in nature while maintaining the optimum gliding ratio previously obtained in the aerodynamic simulations. The former is assessed here via an experimental analysis of the flexural stiffness and maximum deformation rate as EI s = 1.34 × 10-4 Nm2, EI c = 5.67 × 10-6 Nm2 and greater than 148.2%, respectively. Ultimately, a comparative study of the mechanical properties reveals the feasibility of each prototype for gliding micro aerial vehicle applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Isakhani
- The Computational Intelligence Lab (CIL), School of Computer Science, University of Lincoln, LN6 7TS Lincoln, UK
| | - Caihua Xiong
- The State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenbin Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shigang Yue
- The Computational Intelligence Lab (CIL), School of Computer Science, University of Lincoln, LN6 7TS Lincoln, UK
- Machine Life and Intelligence Research Centre, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
G‐Santoyo I, González‐Tokman D, Tapia‐Rodríguez M, Córdoba‐Aguilar A. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger: Detoxification ability as a mechanism of honesty in a sexually selected signal. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Isaac G‐Santoyo
- Neuroecology Lab Facultad de Psicología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad Universitaria Ciudad de México México
| | | | - Miguel Tapia‐Rodríguez
- Unidad de MicroscopíaInstituto de Investigaciones BiomédicasUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad Universitaria Ciudad de México México
| | - Alex Córdoba‐Aguilar
- Instituto de Ecología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad Universitaria Ciudad de México México
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
A review: Learning from the flight of beetles. Comput Biol Med 2021; 133:104397. [PMID: 33895456 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2021.104397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Some Coleoptera (popularly referred to as beetles) can fly at a low Reynolds number with their deployable hind wings, which directly enables a low body weight-a good bioinspiration strategy for miniaturization of micro-air vehicles (MAVs). The hind wing is a significant part of the body and has a folding/unfolding mechanism whose unique function benefits from different structures and materials. This review summarizes the actions, factors, and mechanisms of beetle flight and bioinspired MAVs with deployable wings. The elytron controlled by muscles is the protected part for the folded hind wing and influences flight performance. The resilin, the storage material for elasticity, is located in the folding parts. The hind wings' folding/unfolding mechanism and flight performance can be influenced by vein structures of hollow, solid and wrinkled veins, the hemolymph that flows in hollow veins and its hydraulic mechanism, and various mechanical properties of veins. The action of beetle flight includes flapping flight, hovering, gliding, and landing. The hind wing is passively deformed through force and hemolymph, and the attack angle of the hind wing and the nanomechanics of the veins, muscles and mass body determine the flight performance. Based these factors, bioinspired MAVs with a new deployable wing structure and new materials will be designed to be much more effective and miniaturized. The new fuels and energy supply are significant aspects of MAVs.
Collapse
|
21
|
Petrov PN, Farisenkov SE, Polilov AA. Miniaturization re-establishes symmetry in the wing folding patterns of featherwing beetles. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16458. [PMID: 33020523 PMCID: PMC7536412 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73481-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Most microinsects have feather-like bristled wings, a state known as ptiloptery, but featherwing beetles (family Ptiliidae) are unique among winged microinsects in their ability to fold such wings. An asymmetrical wing folding pattern, found also in the phylogenetically related rove beetles (Staphylinidae), was ancestral for Ptiliidae. Using scanning electron, confocal laser scanning, and optical microscopy, high-speed video recording, and 3D reconstruction, we analyze in detail the symmetrical wing folding pattern and the mechanism of the folding and unfolding of the wings in Acrotrichis sericans (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) and show how some of the smaller featherwing beetles have reverted to strict symmetry in their wing folding. The wings are folded in three phases by bending along four lines (with the help of wing folding patches on the abdominal tergites) and locked under the closed elytra; they unfold passively in two phases, apparently with the help of the elasticity provided by resilin unevenly distributed in the wing and of convexities forming in the cross-sections of the unfolding wing, making it stiffer. The minimum duration of folding is 3.5 s; unfolding is much more rapid (minimum duration lowest recorded in beetles, 0.038 s). The folding ratio of A. sericans is 3.31 (without setae), which is greater than in any beetle in which it has been measured. The symmetrical wing folding pattern found in A. sericans and in all of the smallest ptiliids, in which ptiloptery is especially pronounced, is the only known example of symmetry re-established during miniaturization. This direction of evolution is remarkable because miniaturization is known to result in various asymmetries, while in this case miniaturization was accompanied by reversal to symmetry, probably associated with the evolution of ptiloptery. Our results on the pattern and mechanisms of wing folding and unfolding can be used in robotics for developing miniature biomimetic robots: the mechanisms of wing folding and unfolding in Ptiliidae present a challenge to engineers who currently work at designing ever smaller flying robots and may eventually produce miniature robots with foldable wings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pyotr N Petrov
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey E Farisenkov
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey A Polilov
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
Insect wings are living, flexible structures composed of tubular veins and thin wing membrane. Wing veins can contain hemolymph (insect blood), tracheae, and nerves. Continuous flow of hemolymph within insect wings ensures that sensory hairs, structural elements such as resilin, and other living tissue within the wings remain functional. While it is well known that hemolymph circulates through insect wings, the extent of wing circulation (e.g., whether flow is present in every vein, and whether it is confined to the veins alone) is not well understood, especially for wings with complex wing venation. Over the last 100 years, scientists have developed experimental methods including microscopy, fluorescence, and thermography to observe flow in the wings. Recognizing and evaluating the importance of hemolymph movement in insect wings is critical in evaluating how the wings function both as flight appendages, as active sensors, and as thermoregulatory organs. In this review, we discuss the history of circulation in wings, past and present experimental techniques for measuring hemolymph, and broad implications for the field of hemodynamics in insect wings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary K Salcedo
- Department of Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - John J Socha
- Department of Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Song Z, Tong J, Yan Y, Wu W, Sun J. Effects of microfluid in the veins of the deployable hindwings of the Asian ladybeetle on flight performance. Comput Biol Med 2020; 121:103817. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2020.103817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
|
24
|
Tsai CC, Childers RA, Nan Shi N, Ren C, Pelaez JN, Bernard GD, Pierce NE, Yu N. Physical and behavioral adaptations to prevent overheating of the living wings of butterflies. Nat Commun 2020; 11:551. [PMID: 31992708 PMCID: PMC6987309 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14408-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The wings of Lepidoptera contain a matrix of living cells whose function requires appropriate temperatures. However, given their small thermal capacity, wings can overheat rapidly in the sun. Here we analyze butterfly wings across a wide range of simulated environmental conditions, and find that regions containing living cells are maintained at cooler temperatures. Diverse scale nanostructures and non-uniform cuticle thicknesses create a heterogeneous distribution of radiative cooling that selectively reduces the temperature of structures such as wing veins and androconial organs. These tissues are supplied by circulatory, neural and tracheal systems throughout the adult lifetime, indicating that the insect wing is a dynamic, living structure. Behavioral assays show that butterflies use wings to sense visible and infrared radiation, responding with specialized behaviors to prevent overheating of their wings. Our work highlights the physiological importance of wing temperature and how it is exquisitely regulated by structural and behavioral adaptations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Chia Tsai
- Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Richard A Childers
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Norman Nan Shi
- Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
- Western Digital, San Jose, CA, 95119, USA
| | - Crystal Ren
- Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Julianne N Pelaez
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Gary D Bernard
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Naomi E Pierce
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
| | - Nanfang Yu
- Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Hillyer JF, Pass G. The Insect Circulatory System: Structure, Function, and Evolution. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 65:121-143. [PMID: 31585504 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-011019-025003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Although the insect circulatory system is involved in a multitude of vital physiological processes, it has gone grossly understudied. This review highlights this critical physiological system by detailing the structure and function of the circulatory organs, including the dorsal heart and the accessory pulsatile organs that supply hemolymph to the appendages. It also emphasizes how the circulatory system develops and ages and how, by means of reflex bleeding and functional integration with the immune system, it supports mechanisms for defense against predators and microbial invaders, respectively. Beyond that, this review details evolutionary trends and novelties associated with this system, as well as the ways in which this system also plays critical roles in thermoregulation and tracheal ventilation in high-performance fliers. Finally, this review highlights how novel discoveries could be harnessed for the control of vector-borne diseases and for translational medicine, and it details principal knowledge gaps that necessitate further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julián F Hillyer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA;
| | - Günther Pass
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| |
Collapse
|