Excavation mechanics of the elongated female rostrum of the acorn weevil Curculio glandium (Coleoptera; Curculionidae)
Excavation mechanics of the elongated female rostrum of the acorn weevil Curculio glandium (Coleoptera; Curculionidae)
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DOI：
10.1007/s00339-021-04353-8
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发表时间：
2021-04
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Y. Matsumura;M. Jafarpour;M. Reut;Bardiya Shams Moattar;A. Darvizeh;S. Gorb;H. Rajabi
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文献类型：
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作者：
Y. Matsumura;M. Jafarpour;M. Reut;Bardiya Shams Moattar;A. Darvizeh;S. Gorb;H. Rajabi
延长的嘴（吻）是许多雌性象鼻虫的显著特征。雌性腺叶蚁用口鼻部在橡子中挖掘通道以产卵。考虑到细长的喙，在固体基质中无屈曲地挖掘通道从工程和生物学的角度来看都是一项具有挑战性的任务。在这里，我们的目的是研究的作用，材料的性能和形态的喙在其屈曲阻力。我们采用显微镜技术，非破坏性的材料表征和有限元（FE）建模，以揭示更多的光对主席台的挖掘力学。我们发现，性二态性不仅存在于长度，而且在材料，特别是弹性模量，和形态特征，特别是曲率和厚度的角质层。我们的有限元建模表明，这些因素发挥重要作用，以最大限度地提高屈曲阻力，并尽量减少弯曲阻力的女性喙。考虑到在开挖过程中，需要拉直而不屈曲，因此，基座的功能可能是柔性和刚度之间的折衷。
Elongated rostra (snouts) are remarkable features of many female weevils. The female ofCurculio glandiumuses the snout to excavate channels in acorns to oviposit. Considering the slenderness of the rostrum, the excavation of channels in solid substrates without buckling is a challenging task from both engineering and biological points of view. Here we aimed to examine the roles of the material properties and morphology of the rostrum in its buckling resistance. We employed microscopy techniques, non-destructive material characterisation and finite element (FE) modelling to shed more light on the excavation mechanics of the rostrum. We found that sexual dimorphisms are present not only in the length but also in the material, particularly the elastic modulus, and morphological features, particularly the curvature and thickness of the cuticular layers. Our FE modelling showed that those factors play essential roles to maximise the buckling resistance and minimise the bending resistance of the female rostrum. Considering that during excavation, the rostrum needs to be straightened without buckling, the functionality of the rostrum is likely to be a compromise between the flexibility and stiffness.