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Search for "insect" in Full Text gives 57 result(s) in Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology.
Biomimetics and bioinspired surfaces: from nature to theory and applications
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 418–421, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.32
- technology and new insights into the future of this field of research. Striking advance has been made regarding the study of surfaces on biological models, especially insects. For instance, insect attachment devices and adhesive secretions were thoroughly studied regarding the impact of contamination [2] and
- , substrate compliance, and overall pad geometry. The attachment system of a second stick insect species was structurally investigated by Thomas et al. [4]. This article employed a range of imaging techniques to elucidate the ultrastructure and material composition of the two attachment pad types of this
Bioinspired nanofilament coatings for scale reduction on steel
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 25–34, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.3
- moisture control and water interaction [1][2]. The structure and chemistry of insect skin are finely tuned to navigate these challenges, showcasing a sophisticated natural adaptation to efficiently repel water [3]. Springtails have mastered this capability using micro- and nanostructured skin surfaces
Orientation-dependent photonic bandgaps in gold-dust weevil scales and their titania bioreplicates
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1–10, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.1
- photonic crystals are arguably one of the most sophisticated structures of photonics research [14][28][29], but the refractive index of chitin (n = 1.55, see also [4]) in intact insect scales is too low to allow for the formation of a complete bandgap, hindering photonic applications. The diamond networks
- in insect scales are, however, ideal templates for transferring these complex geometries, which cannot be otherwise synthesized, into media with higher refractive index. Plasma etching is an effective way to open the beetle scales and make them accessible to the chemical environment used for
Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles derived from algae and their larvicidal properties to control Aedes aegypti
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1566–1575, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.123
- of toxicity of AgNPs in mosquito larvae has recently been reported (Figure 3). The small size of AgNPs is linked to two pathways of action. First, AgNPs can pass through the insect cuticle and penetrate individual cells. The second way is the ingestion of AgNPs by larvae through their generalist
Ultrablack color in velvet ant cuticle
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1554–1565, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.122
- , Leica Biosystems, Solms, Germany) and contrasted with osmium tetroxide. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) The capacity of insect cuticle to emit autofluorescence at various wavelengths is extensively documented, influenced by material composition, degree of sclerotization, and the presence of
- resilin [18]. Insect cuticle with protein-dominated regions, which can include resilin, an elastic protein present in arthropod cuticles, or unsclerotized chitin exhibits autofluorescence when excited with a laser of 405 nm wavelength. Regions with a low degree or high degree of sclerotization emit
- most probably coupled with melanin as in other velvet ants [24]. Similar cases of white–black structural colors can be observed in other insect groups. For instance, the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) exhibits black and white scales with micro- and nanostructures that turn
Hymenoptera and biomimetic surfaces: insights and innovations
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1333–1352, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.107
- materials and devices that replicate the efficiency and functionality of insect body structures, driving progress in medical technology, robotics, environmental monitoring, and beyond. Keywords: arthropods; bio-inspired surfaces; bioengineering; cuticle; nanoscale structures; Introduction The body
- region of the insect. This structure is fundamental for generating flight power and precise wing adjustments. The remainder of the abdomen is known as the metasoma. The articulation between the mesosoma and metasoma, marked by the wasp waist (or petiole), enhances the maneuverability of the metasoma and
- ensures the survival of the offspring by creating a microenvironment hostile to pathogens, showcasing a fascinating example of insect–microbe symbiosis. The ability of these wasps to maintain and apply symbiotic bacteria through their antennal glands can inspire the development of bioactive medical
Functional morphology of cleaning devices in the damselfly Ischnura elegans (Odonata, Coenagrionidae)
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1260–1272, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.102
- Abstract Among the different micro- and nanostructures located on cuticular surfaces, grooming devices represent fundamental tools for insect survival. The present study describes the grooming microstructures of the damselfly Ischnura elegans (Odonata, Coenagrionidae) at the adult stage. These structures
- portion and from the seta to the cuticular lamina. The removal of the grooming devices induces a strong increase in the contaminated areas on the eyes after grooming. Further studies on insect grooming can provide valuable data on the functional morphology of insect micro- and nanostructures and can
- tasks through the presence of micro- and nanostructures located on its cuticular surface, serving functions from sensory reception to surface adhesion, air retention, food grinding, thermoregulation, and color production (reviews in [4][5]). The insect cuticle is frequently exposed to a variety of
The effect of age on the attachment ability of stick insects (Phasmatodea)
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 867–883, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.72
- Marie Grote Stanislav N. Gorb Thies H. Buscher Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.15.72 Abstract Many insect species have found their way into ageing research as small and easy-to-keep model organisms. A major
- , adhesive microstructures covering those pads support attachment. Stick insects do not molt again after reaching the imaginal stage; hence, the cuticle of their pads is subject to continuous ageing. This study aims to quantify how attachment ability changes with age in the stick insect Sungaya aeta
- the pads, scarring of the cuticle, and alteration of the autofluorescence, likely indicating stiffening of the cuticle, were observed to accumulate over time. This would reduce the attachment ability of the insect, as pads lose their pliant properties and cannot properly maintain sufficient contact
Functional fibrillar interfaces: Biological hair as inspiration across scales
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 664–677, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.55
- providing low adhesion. Such structures are typically found on body parts where contamination is common, such as adhesive pads [40], or where cleanliness is crucial for survival, such as insect wings [41]. Hairs provide more ways to prevent or clean contamination. For a dedicated review on the topic, please
- when they have a hooked morphology or even sting herbivores [55]. It has been observed that plants with higher densities of trichomes suffer less from insect herbivory. Also, there is a reduced incidence of internal egg laying by insects with ovipositors [55]. Locomotion and feeding While hairs can
- of glues or fluids [62][63]. For insects, the adhesive hairs are around one order of magnitude thicker than those of geckos, and they rely on fluid secreted by the hairs to generate adhesive forces. The hairs on insect footpads can vary in morphology, and these variations have been linked to their
Comparative analysis of the ultrastructure and adhesive secretion pathways of different smooth attachment pads of the stick insect Medauroidea extradentata (Phasmatodea)
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 612–630, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.52
- stick insect Medauroidea extradentata using scanning electron microscopy, micro-computed tomography, light microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Our observations revealed structural differences between both attachment pads, reflecting their distinct functionality. Furthermore, our results
- enhance the actual contact area between the pad and the substrate for the realisation of efficient attachment due to adhesion and friction forces [3][9][12][13][14]. Smooth attachment pads have independently evolved in most large insect groups, possessing multiple specialized types of pads on the same leg
- particles together into larger complexes for easier removal [25][26]. It can also improve attachment to surfaces with different surface chemistry by mediating between the two surfaces in contact [27][28]. The lipid-containing pad secretion protects the insect from additional water loss through the thin
Insect attachment on waxy plant surfaces: the effect of pad contamination by different waxes
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 385–395, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.35
- contamination of insect adhesive pads with three-dimensional epicuticular waxes of different plant species contributes to the reduction of insect attachment. We measured traction forces of tethered Chrysolina fastuosa male beetles having hairy adhesive pads on nine wax-bearing plant surfaces differing in both
- shape and dimensions of the wax structures and examined insect adhesive organs after they have contacted waxy substrates. For comparison, we performed the experiments with the same beetle individuals on a clean glass sample just before (gl1) and immediately after (gl2) the test on a plant surface. The
- cases of the plant surfaces covered with wax projections having higher aspect ratios. The data obtained clearly indicated the impact of waxy plant surfaces on the insect ability to subsequently attach to the clean smooth surface. This effect is caused by the contamination of adhesive pads and
Development and characterization of potential larvicidal nanoemulsions against Aedes aegypti
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 104–114, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.10
- , and immunity to resistance issues that plague conventional chemicals. However, the practical use of monoterpenes in insect control has been hampered by challenges including their poor solubility and stability in aqueous environments. In recent years, the application of nanotechnology-based
Curcumin-loaded nanostructured systems for treatment of leishmaniasis: a review
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 37–50, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.4
- tropical disease caused by a flagellated protozoa of the genus Leishmania. The genus belongs to the Trypanosomatidae family, and it is transmitted by insect vectors of the genus Phlebotomus (in the Old World) or Lutzomyia (in the New World) [25]. The disease is present in several countries and it has
Sulfur nanocomposites with insecticidal effect for the control of Bactericera cockerelli
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 1106–1115, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.91
- oil concentration of 0.5% have an insecticidal efficacy of 100% for the control of insect nymphs 24 h after application. The insecticidal efficacy of rosemary nanocomposites with oil concentrations of 0.25% and 0.75% increases over time and reaches 100% at 24 and 72 h, respectively. The synthesized
- cockerelli Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is one of the most dangerous pests of potato, tomato, pepper, and other crops of the family Solanaceae [1]. The insect is one of the most destructive potato pests in the western hemisphere, New Zealand, and Australia [2]. It is native to North America. However, because
- , carbamates, and pyrethroids, that are used to combat this pest [9]. The insect pest has developed resistance through high fecundity and short doubling time [10]. Also, persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity, misuse, and overuse of synthetic insecticides have led to deterioration of soil, air pollution
Biomimetics on the micro- and nanoscale – The 25th anniversary of the lotus effect
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 850–856, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.69
- and insect attachment on leaf surfaces of Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Araceae)” a study of the development of cuticular ridges on the adaxial leaf surfaces during leaf ontogeny of the tropical Araceae S. calyptrata. The structure of these microscopic ridges helps plants to defend themselves against
- the three species of beetles flying tethered in a wind tunnel. The results show that at low wind speeds, typical during insect flight, the species with the highest folding ratio and highest flapping frequencies produced the highest lift-to-drag ratio. The results are in agreement with other studies of
Nanostructured lipid carriers containing benznidazole: physicochemical, biopharmaceutical and cellular in vitro studies
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 804–818, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.66
- ]. It is caused by the hemoflagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, whose life cycle involves transitioning from non-flagellated multiplicative intracellular forms (amastigotes) to blood-circulating non-multiplicative forms (trypomastigotes). It is mainly transmitted by an insect vector of the
The origin of black and white coloration of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 496–508, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.41
- ; insects; nanostructure; scales; structural white; Introduction Body color (coloration) and light signals (bioluminescence) have a fundamental role in insect inter- and intra-specific visual communication allowing for species recognition, mating, prey capture, and predator avoidance [1]. Insect colours
- , diffraction and scattering, that cause the selective reflection of light [3]. Quite often, structural colors are present together with pigment colors, to increase or to reduce the brightness and to produce particular effects [4]. Insect exoskeletons with their multilayered internal organisation and the
- related to the superhydrophobicity of their body surface, as an adaptation of an aquatic insect to the subaerial life at the adult stage. Indeed, leg scales with their nanostructures are able to entrap air [11][12][13] and play an important role in contact with water during egg laying, giving the mosquito
Supramolecular assembly of pentamidine and polymeric cyclodextrin bimetallic core–shell nanoarchitectures
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1361–1369, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.112
- long) infected female insect vectors of the Phlebotomine subfamily (sandflies). It is an endemic disease in tropical and subtropical regions as well as in Southern Europe. According to the current WHO data, 50.000–90.000 new cases of visceral leishmaniasis [17] (the most severe form of this disease
Interaction between honeybee mandibles and propolis
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 958–974, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.84
- that anti-adhesive properties minimize adhesion of resins and propolis to their body parts. Various anti-adhesive strategies have been found in nature. Different mechanisms can lead to low adhesion. Possible strategies to reduce adhesion on the insect cuticle, as suggested in [16], are specific surface
- propolis adhesion on mandibles Insect preparation for adhesion tests After insects for experiments were caught, they were placed and stored in the freezer at −20 °C for a minimum of 15 min and up to many months. The mandibles were prepared as described above (Figure 2). Without further treatment a mandible
- ][37]. The low contact angle (<30°) of the substance suggests that the mandible surface might be oleophilic. This is consistent with observations that insect cuticles are generally rather wetted by oils than by water [38]. There are different possibilities for the origin of the lubricating layer. It
Bioselectivity of silk protein-based materials and their bio-inspired applications
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 902–921, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.81
- nanostructured ultrahydrophobic surfaces with self-cleaning ability, such as Lotus leaves and insect wing analogues [53][54][55], and the superhydrophobic air-retaining surfaces of Salvinia floating fern leaves and of the water bug Notonecta glauca [53][56]. Based on such blueprints, bioinspired anti-adhesion
- , and whilst the termini are hydrophilic, the repetitive cores are composed of alternating large hydrophobic amino acid sequence blocks interspersed with short hydrophilic parts. Interestingly, in both insect (fibroin) and spider (spidroin) silk fibres the core is composed of fibrils that are oriented
Micro-structures, nanomechanical properties and flight performance of three beetles with different folding ratios
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 845–856, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.75
- insects in flight and to imitate the flight of insects [14][15]. Insect wings play a major role here. Hence, examining their flight parameters is crucially important to design biomimetic FMAVs [16][17]. It is increasingly clear that most insects obtain useful force with the help of aerodynamic mechanisms
- that their flapping lifts were different because of the different sizes and shapes of the wings [20]. Additionally, the elasticity of insect wings also has an impact on the aerodynamic characteristics. By studying the flexible deformations and aerodynamic characteristics of cicada wings during flapping
- ratios gradually decreased and stabilized. For P. brevitarsis, although the downward trend of lift was not obvious (at low wind speed) (Figure 5B), the lift-to-drag ratio still rapidly descended. The reason for this is that, when the insect size decreased, the wing speed decreased (due to reduced wing
Hierachical epicuticular wax coverage on leaves of Deschampsia antarctica as a possible adaptation to severe environmental conditions
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 807–816, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.71
- . macrophylla Jebb and Cheek, N. mirabilis (Lour.) Druce, and N. rafflesiana Jack [16][17]. The waxy (slippery) zone located inside the pitchers is highly specialized for trapping and retaining of insect prey mainly due to contamination of attachment organs of insects [16], reduction of the real contact area
- between the plant surface and insect adhesive devices [16][18], and absorption of the insect adhesive fluid [19]. Whereas the upper wax platelets are rather fragile and can be easily broken into small pieces and removed from the slippery zone thus contaminating insect attachment organs, the pitchers still
- remain fully functional in terms of insect trapping owing to the presence of rather stable lower-layer wax projections [16][17]. Taking into account the above consideration about the Nepenthes wax, we suggest for leaves of D. antarctica that the presence of the two wax layers increases the chance of the
Effect of sample treatment on the elastic modulus of locust cuticle obtained by nanoindentation
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 404–410, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.33
- : biomimetics; cuticle; locust; material properties; mechanical testing; nanoindentation; water content; Introduction Cuticle is a lightweight material that forms the whole exoskeleton of insects, from the flexible intersegmental membrane to the stiff jaws and claws. Cuticle of each insect body part has
- , 1 kPa to 20 GPa [1]. Owing to developments in mechanical testing [2] and imaging techniques [3] and the use of evolutionary algorithms [4], our knowledge about the biomechanics of insect cuticle has been widely broadened recently. However, cuticle remains to be one of the least studied biological
- materials. This is mostly because measuring the mechanical properties of insect cuticle is very challenging in practice. One of these challenges is associated with the rather fast desiccation rate of cuticle, as it loses its water shortly after removal from insect body [5]. Only small changes in the water
Polarity in cuticular ridge development and insect attachment on leaf surfaces of Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Araceae)
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1326–1338, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.98
- surfaces. The changes in the micro- and macroscale morphology of the leaves should improve our understanding of the way that plants defend themselves against insect herbivores. Keywords: cuticular ridges; insect adhesion; leaf surfaces; ontogeny; polarity; surface replication; Introduction The plant
- imaging of young leaf surfaces [7][23]. By means of confocal microscopy experiments, we demonstrate that polarity in ridge development also occurs on leaves of S. calyptrata and that the surface roughness of the leaves increases as the leaves mature. Previous studies have found reduced insect adhesive
- forces on rough plant surfaces [8][9][23][27][28][29][30][31]. By performing traction experiments using Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) as model insect species, we show that the walking frictional forces of insects are reduced as well on freshly unrolled as on adult leaf surfaces
Physical constraints lead to parallel evolution of micro- and nanostructures of animal adhesive pads: a review
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 725–743, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.57
- ][54][55] and ectoparasitic flies are highly modified to remain attached to their hosts and move on them [56]. There are numerous other functional modifications on insect legs, including silk production (e.g., [57]) or prey capturing [58], but one is of major importance for nearly all insects: the
- have smooth ones (Figure 3). Although very similar in shape and identical in function, these micro- and nanostructures evolved in a convergent manner in different insect groups. Smooth attachment systems, on the other hand, comprise soft cuticular pads without elongated fibrillar outgrowths. Usually
- necessarily uniform throughout the entire group (e.g., Phasmatodea, [109]). Unfortunately, broad comparative analyses based on several species per group are missing for most insect lineages. In addition, the same anatomical structure might be hairy or smooth in different representatives of the same group (e.g
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