Wing coupling (Lepidoptera anatomy)

Some four-winged insect orders, such as the Lepidoptera, have developed a wide variety of morphological wing-coupling mechanisms in the imago which render these taxa as "functionally dipterous".[1] All, but the most basal forms, exhibit this wing-coupling.[2]:4266.

The mechanisms are of three different types - jugal, frenulo-retinacular and amplexiform.[3]

Contents

Jugal wing-coupling

The more primitive groups have an enlarged lobe-like area near the basal posterior margin, i.e. at the base of the forewing, called jugum, that folds under the hindwing in flight.[2][4]:631-664

Frenulo-retinacular wing-coupling

Other groups have a frenulum on the hindwing that hooks under a retinaculum on the forewing.[4] The retinaculum is a loop on the underside of the forewing of some moths. Along with the frenulum, a spine at the base of the forward or costal edge of the hindwing, it forms a coupling mechanism for the front and rear wings of the moth.

Amplexiform wing-coupling

In the butterflies (except the male of one species of hesperiid) and in the Bombycoidea (except the Sphingidae), there is no arrangement of frenulum and retinaculum to couple the wings. Instead, an enlarged humeral area of the hindwing is broadly overlapped by the forewing. Despite the absence of a specific mechanical connection, the wings overlap and operate in phase. The power stroke of the forewing pushes down the hindwing in unison. This type of coupling is a variation of frenate type but where the frenulum and retinaculum are completely lost.[1][5]

References

  1. ^ a b Dudley, Robert (2002). The biomechanics of insect flight: form, function, evolution (Reprint, illustrated ed.). Princeton University Press. pp. 476. ISBN 9780691094915. 
  2. ^ a b Stocks, Ian (2008). "Wing coupling". In Capinera, John L.. Encyclopedia of Entomology. Gale virtual reference library. 4 (2 ed.). Springer Reference. pp. 4345. ISBN 9781402062421. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=i9ITMiiohVQC. Retrieved 14 November 2010. 
  3. ^ Scoble, M.J. (1995). The Lepidoptera: form, function and diversity (Reprint (illustrated) ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 416. ISBN 9780198549529. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=gnpd_5iNTiwC. Retrieved 14 November 2010.  Subsec. "Wing coupling". Pp 56-60.
  4. ^ a b Powell, Jerry A. (2009). "Lepidoptera". In Resh, Vincent H.; Cardé, Ring T.. Encyclopedia of Insects (2 (illustrated) ed.). Academic Press. pp. 1132. ISBN 9780123741448. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=wrMcPwAACAAJ. Retrieved 14 November 2010. 
  5. ^ Gorb, Stanislav (2001). "Inter-locking of body parts". Attachment devices of insect cuticle. Springer. pp. 305. ISBN 9780792371533. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=aiSOCbk3LRsC. Retrieved 16 November 2010.