Sub-microscopic modulation of mechanical properties in transparent insect wings

Abstract

We report on the measurement of mechanical properties of the transparent wings of an insect (popularly known as the 'rain fly') using an atomic force microscope (AFM) down to nanometer length scales. We observe that the frictional and adhesion properties on the surface of the wings are modulated in a semi-periodic fashion. From simultaneous measurement of AFM topography it is observed that the modulation of mechanical properties is correlated with the modulation of topography. Furthermore, the regions of higher friction are decorated with finer nanostructures with definite shape. From optical diffraction experiments we show that the observed modulation and its semi-periodic nature are distributed over the entire surface of the wing.