Haas F, Gorb S, Wootton R J
School of Biological Sciences, Exeter University, Hatherly Laboratories, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4PS, UK.
Arthropod Struct Dev. 2000 Apr;29(2):137-46. doi: 10.1016/s1467-8039(00)00025-6.
Representatives of Dermaptera probably have the most unusual hind wing venation and folding pattern among insects. Both correlate with unusual wing folding mechanics, in which folding is achieved from within the wing and unfolding is done by the cerci. In this account, the hind wings of the earwig Forficula auricularia were studied by means of bright field and fluorescence microscopy. Resilin, a rubber-like protein, was revealed in several, clearly defined patches. It occurs dorsally in the radiating veins, but ventrally in the intercalary vein. This distribution determines the folding direction, and resilin is the major driving mechanism for wing folding. Resilin stores elastic energy in broadened vein patches and along the folds. At the other locations, the mid-wing mechanism and central area, the primary function of resilin is suggested to be prevention of material failure. The arrangement of resilin patches is such that the wing cannot be unfolded from the thorax proper but must be unfolded by the cerci. In Dermaptera, the antagonistic movements of folding and unfolding are achieved in two different ways, resilin and cerci. To our knowledge this is unique.
蠼螋的代表种类可能拥有昆虫中最为独特的后翅脉序和折叠模式。这两者都与独特的翅折叠机制相关，在这种机制中，折叠是从翅内部完成的，而展开则是由尾铗进行的。在本报告中，通过明场和荧光显微镜对普通蠼螋（Forficula auricularia）的后翅进行了研究。发现了一种名为节肢弹性蛋白的类似橡胶的蛋白质，它分布在几个清晰界定的区域。它在背侧分布于放射状翅脉中，但在腹侧分布于闰脉中。这种分布决定了折叠方向，节肢弹性蛋白是翅折叠的主要驱动机制。节肢弹性蛋白在加宽的翅脉区域以及沿着褶皱处储存弹性能量。在翅的其他位置，即翅中部机制和中心区域，节肢弹性蛋白的主要功能被认为是防止材料失效。节肢弹性蛋白区域的排列方式使得翅无法从胸部本体展开，而必须由尾铗展开。在蠼螋中，折叠和展开的拮抗运动通过两种不同方式实现，即节肢弹性蛋白和尾铗。据我们所知，这是独一无二的。
