Conflicting Requirements for Transparency and Mechanical Stability in the Compound Eyes of Desert Locusts

Compound eyes of insects should be both thin and transparent to allow light pass through, at the same time mechanically stable serve as exoskeleton. These conflicting requirements make corneal cuticle an interesting example for studying biomechanics well designing composite materials that seek similar properties. Here, scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser nanoindentation are combined investigate microstructure, material composition, properties desert locust Schistocerca gregaria. The results suggest a fully helicoidal architecture large proportion resilin in likely adaptations transmission. Even though is resilin-rich, its elastic modulus least three times higher than previously reported other resilin-rich cuticles. This due specific microstructure with densely packed layers. study presents one series studies, which multidisciplinary approaches used understand link between structure, material, property, function insect cuticle.