【目的】鳞翅目昆虫具有较强的飞行能力,远距离迁飞是其区域性灾变的生物学基础。翅的力学性能决定昆虫的飞行效率和迁飞距离,由于翅型、尺寸和组成结构等因素的限制,对昆虫翅膀力学参数的测试一直缺乏行之有效的技术手段。【方法】本研究采用纳米压入技术测试了棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera、小地老虎Agrotis ypsilon和黄地老虎Agrotis segetum成虫翅膀的力学参数。【结果】动态压入和准静态压入两种测试方法均具有空间分辨率高、数据可靠性强等优点,且具有较好的可操作性和可重复性。【结论】纳米压入技术可准确测量鳞翅目昆虫翅膀的各项力学性能参数,为深入研究昆虫远距离迁飞的空气动力学机制提供了技术支撑。
[Objectives] Lepidopteran insects possess strong flight capacity, which is the biological basis for their sudden outbreaks across different agricultural regions. Flight efficiency and migration distances of insects are mainly affected by the mechanical properties of their wings. However, due to limitations of wing size, shape and physical structure, an effective method to detect such properties is currently lacking. [Methods] Mechanical parameters of the wings of three moth species (Helicoverpa armigera, Agrotis ypsilon and A. segetum) were measured by means of nano-indentation. [Results] The results show that both quasi-static and dynamic indentation possess the advantage of high spatial-resolution and data reliability, as well as good repeatability and maneuverability. [Conclusion] The methods described in this paper will improve our knowledge of the flying mechanisms and migration behaviors of Lepidopteran insects.