From the larva to the adult – morphology and material composition of the mouthparts in Odonatafocusing on biomechanics and ontogeny

蜻蜓（蜻蜓）是重要的捕食者，无论是作为水生幼虫和飞行的成年人。因此，它们的口器高度专业化，并适应捕食者的生活方式。DFG资助的项目（BU 3169 / 1-1）目前正在详细研究幼虫口器的生物力学，初步结果为3D形态学，运动学和角质层材料组成的相互作用提供了迷人的见解。在这个后续项目中，我们希望提供对个体发育和孵化过程的见解，以向该项目的重点成人的口器画一个弓。这涉及形态学、材料组成和性质以及在进食过程的运动学背景下的口器的生物力学。特别是，我们感兴趣的是角质层的材料组成，特别是弹性蛋白的存在，对口器功能的重要程度。各种形态学方法，如X射线断层扫描，荧光显微镜和现代冷冻扫描电子显微镜和高速摄像将帮助我们了解这些结构背后的功能原理。生物力学特性，如阻尼，冲击吸收和相关的增加耐磨性或改善的疲劳，这往往是与存在的弹性蛋白在角质层，是通过有限元建模方法进行测试。此外，将准备一份工作协议，以使用我们用荧光显微镜确定的角质层中的材料成分，作为有针对性的纳米压痕的模板。在这里，将有可能定位并具体确定角质层的材料特性。此方法将用于以后改进有限元模型，并增加其信息价值。此外，还将进行进一步的测试，以确定这些模型的标准简化是否会影响其有效性。总的来说，该项目将为未来的技术应用提供非常有用的信息，例如机器人技术或相关的仿生领域。此外，它使我们能够获得重要的见解蜻蜓的进化和生态形态。

Odonata (dragonflies) are important predators both as aquatic larvae and as flying adults. Their mouthparts are therefore highly specialized and adapted to the lifestyle of a predator. The DFG-funded project (BU 3169 / 1-1) is currently in detail investigating the biomechanics of larval mouthparts and first results provide fascinating insights into the interplay of 3D morphology, kinematics and material composition of the cuticle. In this follow-up project, we want to provide insights into the ontogeny and the hatching process to draw a bow to the mouthparts of the adult which are the focus of the project. This involves the morphology, material composition and properties as well as the biomechanics of the mouthparts in the context of the kinematics of the feeding process. In particular, we are interested in the degree to which the material composition of the cuticle, especially the presence of resilin, is important for the functioning of the mouthparts. Various morphological methods such as X-ray tomography, fluorescence microscopy and modern cryo-scanning electron microscopy and high-speed videography will help us understand the functional principles behind these structures. Biomechanical peculiarities such as damping, impact absorption and associated increase in wear resistance or improvements in the fatigue, which are often associated with the presence of resilin in the cuticle, are to be tested by finite element modeling approaches. In addition, a work protocol will be prepared to use the material composition in the cuticle, which we determine with fluorescence microscopy, as a template for targeted nanoindentation. Here it will be possible to localize and specifically determine material properties of the cuticle. This method will be used later to improve finite element models and increase their informative value. Further tests to determine whether the standard simplification of these models has an influence on their validity will be carried out.In its entirety, the project will provide extremely useful information for future technical applications, such as in robotics or related biomimetic fields. In addition, it allows us to gain important insights into the evolution and eco-morphology of the Odonata.