Structural Design Variations in Beetle Elytra
Structural Design Variations in Beetle Elytra
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DOI：
10.1002/adfm.202106468
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发表时间：
2021-08-15
影响因子：
19
通讯作者：
Kisailus, David
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Rivera, Jesus;Murata, Satoshi;Kisailus, David
甲虫通常用它们的保护性翅膀覆盖物或鞘翅来保护它们的膜状后翅不受环境的影响。在一些陆生物种中，鞘翅已经进化出了更大的保护作用，能够保护生物体免受强大的敌对捕食者的攻击。这些生物复合材料的结构-功能关系确定了角质层的结构和化学变化如何被调整以创造轻质，抗冲击的复合材料。具体来说，研究人员比较了能飞行的树栖甲虫Trypoxylus dichotomus和不能飞行的陆生甲虫Phloeodes diabolicus的鞘翅结构，以了解它们不同的环境需求是如何形成鞘翅以促进战斗或抵抗致命的捕食者袭击的。机械和微观结构分析表明，P. diabolicus有一个更硬、更硬的鞘翅，其中包含了穿透厚度的纤维，以抵抗弯曲和穿刺施加的更大的机械应力。相反，T. dichotomus的鞘翅具有较大空隙的柔顺结构，有利于局部变形。弯曲强度和抗穿刺性的变化仍然归因于双角藻具有更厚的角质层和更大程度的交联，以及更多的内室层。这些发现可能为设计和制造用于轻质或吸能应用的复合材料提供有用的见解。
Beetles typically use their protective wing coverings or elytra to shield their membranous hindwings from the environment. Elytra in some terrestrial species have evolved a greater protective role capable of shielding the organism from powerful antagonistic predators. The structure-function relationships of these biological composites identify how architectural and chemical variations of the cuticle are tuned to create light-weight, impact resistant composites. Specifically, the elytral structures of a tree dwelling beetle capable of flight, Trypoxylus dichotomus, and a terrestrial beetle incapable of flight, Phloeodes diabolicus, are compared to understand how their varied environmental needs forged the elytra to facilitate fight or resist fatal predator strikes. Mechanical and microstructural analysis reveals P. diabolicus has a harder, stiffer elytra that incorporate through-thickness fibers to resist greater mechanical stresses imposed by bending and puncture. Conversely, the elytra of T. dichotomus have a compliant structure with large voids that facilitates localized deformation. Variations in flexural strength and puncture resistance remain attributed to P. diabolicus possessing a thicker cuticle with a greater degree of cross-linking and an increased amount of endocuticular layers. These findings may provide useful insight into the design and manufacturing of composite materials for use in light-weight or energy-absorbing applications.