Scientists Sneak A Peek At How Ladybugs Fold Their Wings.
With the help of high-speed cameras, CT scanners and some nail-art supplies, scientists in Japan have managed to catch a glimpse of the elaborate way that ladybugs fold their wings to tuck them away.
The wings, after all, are much larger than the black-spotted wing cases they fold down to fit inside — as is immediately obvious easy to see if you just watch a video of the wings unfolding.
But the researchers at the University of Tokyo explain that no one knew how the ladybugs put the wings away, since they actually shut the wing cases first — then pull the wings inside.
The artificial wing case, called an elytron, allowed the researchers to watch how the wing folded.
The process by which the wings collapse is akin to origami — in fact, the scientists used origami paper to recreate portions of the wing folds.
In the study, the scientists suggest some immediate applications for the research — including aircraft wings, space technology like folding antennas and solar arrays, and far more prosaic items like umbrellas and fans. »
