Helical grooves on the surfaces of microtrichia in European Hornets: Functional significance for antipodal relation between right and left hindwings

Abstract

The surface structures of microtrichia on the hindwings of Verspa Crabro (European hornets) were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Helical grooves were seen in the microtrichia on both the ventral and dorsal sides. Their helical orientation varied spatially across the wing surface but were the same in the ventral and dorsal surfaces. Notably the grooves wound antipodally between the left and right wings. The observed chirality relation might be related to the effective anti-wetting of hindwings. The results demonstrated the importance of microscopic chirality in understrading the functions of insect wings.