The Armoured Cuticle of the Black Soldier Fly Hermetia Illucens

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2023 Dec 13

PMID 38092863

Authors

Manuela Rebora

Gianandrea Salerno

Silvana Piersanti

Valerio Saitta

Diletta Morelli Venturi

Chuchu Li

Stanislav Gorb

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We characterise in detail the larval and pupal cuticle of the black soldier fly Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), a key insect species in circular economy. In particular, we focus on ultrastructure using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, material characterization and composition (elements and minerals) with confocal laser scanning microscope, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, powder X-ray diffraction and mechanical properties with nanoindentation measurements. Calcium carbonate crystallizes on the epicuticle as blocks of calcite in the pupal cuticle. Calcium carbonate granules are stored in two specialised Malpighian tubules. CaCO is already present in the cuticle of young larval instars, but it is mainly in the form of amorphous calcium carbonate while the amount of calcite increases during larval development. The presence of calcite leads to cuticle hardening. Larval and pupal cuticles contain large amounts of resilin which guarantee cuticle flexibility.

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