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Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology

Student Competition 10-Minute Paper

Grad PBT: Physiology, Morphology, and Ecology

Exploring the role of brochosome variation on the wettability of leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) wings

Monday, November 1, 2021
10:54 AM - 11:06 AM MT
Location: Colorado Convention Center, Meeting Room 401-402
In-Person Student Competition
Insect wing surfaces have micro- and nano- features that create a topography which results in multi-functional properties like hydrophobicity, antibacterial activity, and anti-reflectivity. Leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) are unique in that they produce and excrete molecular granules (brochosomes) that are spread onto the integument by the insect. These adaptations have captured the interest of researchers looking to draw inspiration from the natural world to generate novel solutions and technologies. Here, we compare brochosome size and shape across eight species (five genera) of leafhoppers using scanning electron microscopy. Through the use of microgoniometry, we also demonstrate that in addition to the presence of a brochosomal coating, variation in brochosome size impacts the level of hydrophobicity. Furthermore, we expect to find that smaller brochosomes increase droplet contact angle. This is the first study that relates brochosome size variation and wettability among various leafhopper species. Our work provides valuable insight into the guided design of novel functionalized materials that promote hydrophobic and self-cleaning activities.