Material properties of arthropod cuticles: The arthrodial membranes

Hepburn, H. R.; Chandler, H.D.

doi:10.1007/bf00689417

Cited by 83 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Previous studies have also shown structural correlates between composite materials and physical properties in various biological systems, including bacteria, molluscs, vertebrates and insects (Hepburn and Chandler, 1976;Lin et al, 2009;Mayer and Sarikaya, 2002;Sun et al, 2008;Williams and Kramer, 2010). It thus seems likely that the distinct physical properties within the flagellum's cuticle might correlate with its unique physical properties, combining stiffness with flexibility and controllability.…”

Section: Histology Of the Flagellummentioning

confidence: 95%

“…3.3. Ratio of endo-and exocuticle along the antenna Hepburn and Chandler (1976) state that the sclerotised exocuticle dominates the stress-strain relationship of cuticle (until fracture), whereas the non-sclerotised endocuticle determines the damping properties. Based on this conclusion, we focused on the layering of exoand endocuticle of the antenna.…”

Section: General Morphology Of the Flagellummentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biomechanics of the stick insect antenna: Damping properties and structural correlates of the cuticle

Dirks

Dürr

2011

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials

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Please cite this article as: Dirks, J.-H., Dürr, V., Biomechanics of the stick insect antenna: Damping properties and structural correlates of the cuticle. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials (2011Materials ( ), doi:10.1016Materials ( /j.jmbbm.2011 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. AbstractThe antenna of the Indian stick insect Carausius morosus is a highly specialized near-range sensory probe used to actively sample tactile cues about location, distance or shape of external objects in real time.The length of the antenna's flagellum is 100 times the diameter at the base, making it a very delicate and slender structure. Like the rest of the insect body, it is covered by a protective exoskeletal cuticle, making it stiff enough to allow controlled, active, exploratory movements and hard enough to resist damage and wear. At the same time, it is highly flexible in response to contact forces, and returns rapidly to its straight posture without oscillations upon release of contact force. Which mechanical adaptations allow stick insects to unfold the remarkable combination of maintaining a sufficiently invariant shape between contacts and being sufficiently compliant during contact? What role does the cuticle play?Our results show that, based on morphological differences, the flagellum can be divided into three zones, consisting of a tapered cone of stiff exocuticle lined by an inner wedge of compliant endocuticle. This inner wedge is thick at the antenna's base and thin at its distal half. The decay time constant after deflection, a measure that indicates strength of damping, is much longer at the base (τ > 25 ms) than in the distal half (τ < 18 ms) of the flagellum. Upon experimental desiccation, reducing mass and compliance of the endocuticle, the flagellum becomes under-damped. Analyzing the frequency components indicates that the flagellum can be abstracted with the model of a double pendulum with springs and dampers in both joints.We conclude that in the stick-insect antenna the cuticle properties described are structural correlates of damping, allowing for a straight posture in the instant of a new contact event, combined with a maximum of flexibility.

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Section: Histology Of the Flagellummentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: General Morphology Of the Flagellummentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomechanics of the stick insect antenna: Damping properties and structural correlates of the cuticle

Dirks

Dürr

2011

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials

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“…The results are discussed in relation to the mechanical function of the gula plate. Mechanical properties of gula plate cuticle fractions of the main constituents (Hepburn and Chandler, 1976).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local mechanical properties of the head articulation cuticle in the beetlePachnoda marginata(Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)

Barbakadze

Enders

Gorb

et al. 2006

Journal of Experimental Biology

133

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SUMMARY Insect exoskeleton (cuticle) has a broad range of mechanical properties depending on the function of a particular structure of the skeleton. Structure and mechanical properties of the specialised cuticle of insect joints remain largely unknown to date. We used scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to obtain information about the material structure of the gula plate, the head part of the head-to-neck articulation system in the beetle Pachnoda marginata. The surface of this cuticle appears rather smooth in SEM. The fibers of the exocuticle are partly oriented almost perpendicular to the surface, which is rather unusual for arthropod cuticle. Nanoindentation experiments were performed to determine the local mechanical properties (hardness and elastic modulus) of the gula material. To understand the effect of desiccation and the influence of an outer wax layer on the mechanical behavior of the material, the samples were tested in fresh, dry and chemically treated (lipid extraction in organic solvents) conditions. Nanoindentation results were found to be strongly influenced by desiccation but only slightly by lipid extraction. Decreasing water content (∼15-20%of the cuticle mass) led to an increase in hardness (from 0.1 to 0.49 GPa) and elastic modulus (from 1.5 to 7.5 GPa). The lipid extraction caused a slight further hardening (to 0.52 GPa) as well as stiffening (to 7.7 GPa) of the material. The results are discussed in relation to the mechanical function of the gula plate.

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“…Insects and other invertebrates have been shown to exhibit a wide range of physical characteristics (Hepburn & Chandler, 1976;Freeman, 1979Freeman, , 1981Hill, 1985;Strait, 1991), but previously the diversity of physical properties of insects had not been related to tooth function. Since certain insectivorous species have been found to exploit only sections of the invertebrate prey available (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of tooth shape on the breakdown of insects

Evans,

Sanson

1998

Journal of Zoology

128

133

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This study investigates the effect of tooth sharpness on the force and energy necessary for a tooth to divide foods of differing physical properties. The material properties of foods are likely to affect the shape that is best to divide them. In order to test the effect of sharpness on a tooth's pro®ciency in dividing insect prey, experiments involving penetrating and driving through insect prey of differing physical properties were carried out using specially designed punches that varied in tip-and cusp-sharpness. A re®nement of tooth measurements which are relevant to their effectiveness in penetrating and driving through food is expounded.`Tip-sharpness' is de®ned as the radius of curvature at the tip of a cusp.`Cusp-sharpness' is de®ned as the volume or surface area of the tooth per unit distance from the tip of a cusp. The experiments show that tooth shape is important in the force and energy needed for teeth to penetrate and drive through insects. Also, the scale of teeth is important ± teeth of the same shape but different size vary in their effectiveness to divide foods.

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Material properties of arthropod cuticles: The arthrodial membranes

Cited by 83 publications

References 20 publications

Biomechanics of the stick insect antenna: Damping properties and structural correlates of the cuticle

Biomechanics of the stick insect antenna: Damping properties and structural correlates of the cuticle

Local mechanical properties of the head articulation cuticle in the beetlePachnoda marginata(Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)

The effect of tooth shape on the breakdown of insects

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