The Insect (cicada) Wing Membrane Micro/Nano Structure – Nature’s Templates for Control of Optics, Wetting, Adhesion, Contamination, Bacteria and Eukaryotic Cells

In order to survive, many insect species must utilise surfaces which are energy effective, material conserving and typically multifunctional. Insects are some of the oldest animals on the planet and survive in a diverse range of environmental conditions. It stands to reason therefore that they would possess features which are highly tuned and refined through the process of evolution. The insect cuticle, and in particular the wings, have in recent times demonstrated a range of remarkable multifunctional properties which are of interest to biomimetic, medical, dental, material science, surface science, engineering, marine, biofouling, industrial and a host of multidisciplined researchers. Examination of the functional attributes and functional efficiency of insect cuticle wing membranes may provide valuable lessons for how to incorporate multifunctional properties into man- made materials, especially at surfaces and interfaces. While there is an extensive diversity in insect wing structuring, the superfamily Cicadoidea (cicadas) highlight and demonstrate how simplistic insect architectures can exhibit varied and multifunctional properties. These include superhydrophobicity, self–cleaning, transparency, antireflection, high strength, ultra low particle adhesion/friction and control of bacterial and eukaryotic cell growth/adherence. This review, primarily focused on some of our recent studies, highlights the functions and functional efficiency of the insect cuticle by focusing on the cicada wing, as an exemplary example, illustrating features that are of particular relevance for biomimetic purposes.