Compound Microstructures and Wax Layer of Beetle Elytral Surfaces and Their Influence on Wetting Properties

Mingxia Sun; Aiping Liang; Gregory S Watson; Jolanta A Watson; Yongmei Zheng; Lei Jiang

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046710

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Compound Microstructures and Wax Layer of Beetle Elytral Surfaces and Their Influence on Wetting Properties

Journal article

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Compound Microstructures and Wax Layer of Beetle Elytral Surfaces and Their Influence on Wetting Properties

Mingxia Sun, Aiping Liang, Gregory S Watson, Jolanta A Watson, Yongmei Zheng and Lei Jiang

PLoS One, Vol.7(10), e46710

2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046710

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Abstract

beetle elytra

wetting properties

A beetles' first line of defense against environmental hazards is their mesothoracic elytra - rigid, protective forewings. In order to study the interaction of these wings with water, the surface microstructures of various beetles' elytra were observed by Environment Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Chemistry components were ascertained using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). All the beetles of various habitats (including desert, plant, dung, land and water) exhibited compound microstructures on their elytra. The wetting properties of these elytra were identified using an optical contact angle meter. In general the native elytra exhibited hydrophilic or weak hydrophobic properties with contact angles (CAs) ranging from 47.5° to 109.1°. After treatment with chloroform, the CAs all increased on the rougher elytral surfaces. The presence of wax is not the only determinant of hydrophobic properties, but rather a combination with microscopic structures found on the surfaces. Irregularities and the presence or absence of tiny cracks, hairs (or setae), pores and protrusions are important factors which influence the wetting properties. Rougher elytral surfaces tended to present a stronger hydrophobicity. Effects on hydrophobicity, such as surface microstructures, chemistry, environment and aging (referring to the time after emergence), are also included and discussed. Our results also provide insights into the motion of water droplets when in contact with beetle elytra.

Details

Title: Compound Microstructures and Wax Layer of Beetle Elytral Surfaces and Their Influence on Wetting Properties
Authors: Mingxia Sun (Author) - Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Aiping Liang (Author) - Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Gregory S Watson (Author) - James Cook University
Jolanta A Watson (Author) - James Cook University
Yongmei Zheng (Author) - Beihang University, China
Lei Jiang (Author) - Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Publication details: PLoS One, Vol.7(10), e46710
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Date published: 2012
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046710
ISSN: 1932-6203
Copyright note: Copyright © Sun et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99447764702621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

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