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1. Preserving and vouchering butterflies and moths for large-scale museum-based molecular research

   https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2160  

   Cho, Soowon; Epstein, Samantha W.; Mitter, Kim; Hamilton, Chris A.; Plotkin, David; Mitter, Charles; Kawahara, Akito Y. (June 2016, PeerJ)

   Butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) comprise significant portions of the world’s natural history collections, but a standardized tissue preservation protocol for molecular research is largely lacking. Lepidoptera have traditionally been spread on mounting boards to display wing patterns and colors, which are often important for species identification. Many molecular phylogenetic studies have used legs from pinned specimens as the primary source for DNA in order to preserve a morphological voucher, but the amount of available tissue is often limited. Preserving an entire specimen in a cryogenic freezer is ideal for DNA preservation, but without an easily accessible voucher it can make specimen identification, verification, and morphological work difficult. Here we present a procedure that creates accessible and easily visualized “wing vouchers” of individual Lepidoptera specimens, and preserves the remainder of the insect in a cryogenic freezer for molecular research. Wings are preserved in protective holders so that both dorsal and ventral patterns and colors can be easily viewed without further damage. Our wing vouchering system has been implemented at the University of Maryland (AToL Lep Collection) and the University of Florida (Florida Museum of Natural History, McGuire Center of Lepidoptera and Biodiversity), which are among two of the largest Lepidoptera molecular collections in the world. 

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2. Wings of fringed fruit-eating bats (Artibeus fimbriatus) are highly integrated biological airfoils from perspectives of secondary-sexual dimorphism, allometry and modularity

   Stevens, R.; Guest, E. (June 2022, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society)

   Phenotypic variability is ubiquitous. This is especially true in bats where families such as Phyllostomidae encompass as much phenotypic variability as some entire orders of mammals. Typically, phenotypic variability is characterized based on cranial morphology with studies of other functionally important aspects of the phenotype such as legs, feet and wings less frequent. We examined patterns of secondary-sexual dimorphism and allometry of wing elements of the fringed fruit-eating bat (Artibeus fimbriatus) as well as examined for the first time modularity of bat wings. Patterns were based on 13 wing measurements taken from 21 female and 15 males from eastern Paraguay. From a multivariate perspective A. fimbriatus exhibited significant secondary-sexual dimorphism. Females were larger than males for all 13 wing characteristics with significant differences involving the last phalanx of the 4th and 5th digits. Female wings were also relatively larger than male wings from a multivariate perspective as well as the last phalanx of the 4th and 5th digit, after adjusting for wing size based on forearm length. Wing elements were highly variable regarding allometric relationships with some exhibiting no allometric patterns, and others exhibiting isometry or hyperallometry depending on the element. Wings exhibited significant modularity with metacarpals, proximal phalanges and distal phalanges each representing a discrete module. Wings of A. fimbriatus exhibit substantive patterns of dimorphism, allometry and modularity. While the Big Mother Hypothesis is a strong theoretical construct to explain wing dimorphism, there is yet no sound theoretical basis to patterns of allometry and modularity of the wing. Indeed, trying to understand the determinants of variation in wing morphology is ripe for future investigation. 

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3. Transient use of hemolymph for hydraulic wing expansion in cicadas

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32533-4  

   Salcedo, Mary K.; Ellis, Tyler E.; Sáenz, Ángela S.; Lu, Joyce; Worrell, Terrell; Madigan, Michael L.; Socha, John J. (December 2023, Scientific Reports)

   Abstract Insect wings must be flexible, light, and strong to allow dynamic behaviors such as flying, mating, and feeding. When winged insects eclose into adults, their wings unfold, actuated hydraulically by hemolymph. Flowing hemolymph in the wing is necessary for functioning and healthy wings, both as the wing forms and as an adult. Because this process recruits the circulatory system, we asked, how much hemolymph is pumped into wings, and what happens to the hemolymph afterwards? Using Brood X cicadas ( Magicicada septendecim ), we collected 200 cicada nymphs, observing wing transformation over 2 h. Using dissection, weighing, and imaging of wings at set time intervals, we found that within 40 min after emergence, wing pads morphed into adult wings and total wing mass increased to ~ 16% of body mass. Thus, a significant amount of hemolymph is diverted from body to wings to effectuate expansion. After full expansion, in the ~ 80 min after, the mass of the wings decreased precipitously. In fact, the final adult wing is lighter than the initial folded wing pad, a surprising result. These results demonstrate that cicadas not only pump hemolymph into the wings, they then pump it out, producing a strong yet lightweight wing. 

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4. Succession and seasonality drive tropical butterfly assembly after an extreme hurricane

   https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.13331  

   Aparicio‐Jiménez, Dayneris; Terry, Caitlin_N; Massol‐Deyá, Arturo; Puente‐Rolón, Alberto_R; Hulshof, Catherine_M (April 2024, Biotropica)

   Abstract The composition and biodiversity of insect community assemblages are mediated by a complex set of biotic and abiotic factors. Among these factors are forest structure and atmospheric variables (like temperature and humidity), which are heavily influenced by frequent hurricane activity in the Caribbean. Despite this, changes in Caribbean insect assemblages as forests recover from hurricane disturbance are poorly documented. Butterflies represent a charismatic model taxon in biodiversity and conservation, and are thus an ideal subject for exemplifying these shifts in insect abundances and diversity across ecological succession. Here, we monitored butterfly communities in two Puerto Rican forests differing in structure (i.e., canopy height, tree size) to assess butterfly diversity, abundances, and community level wing traits (size and color) over 1 year, beginning 6 months after Hurricane Maria. Monthly sampling over the course of 1 year revealed no relationships between abundances and canopy openness or humidity; instead, species abundances fluctuated seasonally and were nonlinearly correlated with temperature. In contrast, wing size and color were linearly correlated with abiotic variables. Specifically, wings were larger in cooler and more open conditions. Wing color saturation and brightness were negatively correlated with humidity. Our results suggest that, first, a functional approach may provide better insight into the factors mediating species responses to disturbances. Second, further disentangling abundance seasonality from impacts of extreme disturbances necessitates long‐term monitoring. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material. 

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5. Complex hemolymph circulation patterns in grasshopper wings

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-04651-2  

   Salcedo, Mary K.; Jun, Brian H.; Socha, John J.; Pierce, Naomi E.; Vlachos, Pavlos P.; Combes, Stacey A. (March 2023, Communications Biology)

   Abstract An insect’s living systems—circulation, respiration, and a branching nervous system—extend from the body into the wing. Wing hemolymph circulation is critical for hydrating tissues and supplying nutrients to living systems such as sensory organs across the wing. Despite the critical role of hemolymph circulation in maintaining healthy wing function, wings are often considered “lifeless” cuticle, and flows remain largely unquantified. High-speed fluorescent microscopy and particle tracking of hemolymph in the wings and body of the grasshopperSchistocerca americanarevealed dynamic flow in every vein of the fore- and hindwings. The global system forms a circuit, but local flow behavior is complex, exhibiting three distinct types: pulsatile, aperiodic, and “leaky” flow. Thoracic wing hearts pull hemolymph from the wing at slower frequencies than the dorsal vessel; however, the velocity of returning hemolymph (in the hindwing) is faster than in that of the dorsal vessel. To characterize the wing’s internal flow mechanics, we mapped dimensionless flow parameters across the wings, revealing viscous flow regimes. Wings sustain ecologically important insect behaviors such as pollination and migration. Analysis of the wing circulatory system provides a template for future studies investigating the critical hemodynamics necessary to sustaining wing health and insect flight. 

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