The relationship between epicuticular long-chained hydrocarbons and surface area - volume ratios in insects (Diptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera)

<div><p>Long-chain cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are common components of the epicuticle of terrestrial arthropods. CHC serve as a protective barrier against environmental influences but also act as semiochemicals in animal communication. Regarding the latter aspect, species- or intra-functional group specific CHCs composition and variation are relatively well studied. However, comparative knowledge about the relationship of CHC quantity and their relation to surface area—volume ratios in the context of water loss and protection is fragmentary. Hence, we aim to study the taxon-specific relationship of the CHC amount and surface-area to volume ratio related to their functional role (e.g. in water loss). We focused on flower visiting insects and analyzed the CHC amounts of three insect orders (Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera) using gas chromatography—mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We included 113 species from two grassland plots, quantified their CHCs, and measured their body mass and surface area. We found differences in the surface area, CHCs per body mass and the CHC density (= amount of CHCs per surface area) across the three insect taxa. Especially the Hymenoptera had a higher CHC density compared to Diptera and Lepidoptera. CHC density could be explained by surface area-volume ratios in Hymenoptera but not in Diptera and Lepidoptera. Unexpectedly, CHC density decreased with increasing surface area—volume ratios.</p></div

Additional file 2: of Patterns and dynamics of neutral lipid fatty acids in ants – implications for ecological studies

Full dataset. (XLSX 42 kb

FileS1. from Mechanical and elemental characterization of ant mandibles: consequences for bite mechanics

Nanoindentation and EDS data from the measurements of both mandibles of three Formica cunicularia workers. Rows depict the samples, columns depict the measured variables

FileS3. from Mechanical and elemental characterization of ant mandibles: consequences for bite mechanics

Proportion (%) of mandibular volume filled with each of the 50 stress intervals regarding the FEA performed in the manuscript (four biting behaviors and two treatments of Young's modulus, totaling eight simulations). Rows depict the simulation identity, columns depict the stress intervals, and cells depict the % of mandibular volume filled with each stress interval