Article Evolution of proboscis musculature in Lepidoptera

Hello Thierry; Mr. Cooper interprets your question with a paper that describes the pattern of development of a specific element of the system. I'd like to emphasize the more general case.

Except for a few midline structures like the neural tube, the architecture of animals that move is bilaterally symmetrical - even the neural tube ends up bilaterally symetrical. Even Echinoderms that are superficially radially symmetrical, are functionally bilateral. This fundamental feature of animal development seems to constrain the development of animals.

Feeding structures in Hexapods are derived from modified, paired appendages. Thus the evolution of the butterfly proboscis was "stuck with" a tube that was derived from bilateral elements. Evolution is contingent and organisms are replete with "make do" structures like this example. Fun stuff!! Best regards, Jim Des Lauriers

I think it is a genetic feature.

Thanks all for your answer appreciated for first question.

What about the second that is more intriguing. (2- As for the attachment system of the two gutters, by means of hooks or a zipper, it also seems quite complicated. Is there a reason why there is not a weld that seems more hermetic and that would allow to have "one piece" ?)

in other words why a zip and not a welding that seems more avantagous ?

The answer may be probably something to do with functionnal advantage or obligation in the building of the imago, but which one ?

Thierry

Here is a list of a few papers by an entomologist in my state, sorry I did not have time to locate the url's of each but they should not be hard to find:

Kornev, K. G. & P. H. Adler. 2016. The butterfly proboscis as a fiber-based, self-cleaning, micro-fluidic system. International Society for Optics and Photonics SPIE Newsroom. 10.1117/2.1201603.006419/ (2 pp.) [Invited].

Kornev, K. G., D. Monaenkova, P. H. Adler, C. E. Beard & W.-K. Lee. 2016. The butterfly proboscis as a fiber-based, self-cleaning, micro-fluidic system. In R. J. Martín-Palma (ed.) Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication. Proceedings of the International Society for Optics and Photonics 9797 (979705). 10 pp. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2218941 [Invited].

Kornev, K. G., A. A. Salamatin, P. H. Adler & C. E. Beard. 2017. Structural and physical determinants of the proboscis–sucking pump complex in the evolution of fluid-feeding insects. Scientific Reports 7: Doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-06391-w

Kwauk, K., D. K. Hasegawa, M. S. Lehnert, C. E. Beard, P. D. Gerard, K. G. Kornev & P. H. Adler. 2014. Drinking with an unsealed tube: fluid uptake along the butterfly proboscis. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 107: 886-892.

Lehnert, M.S., D. Monaenkova, T. Andrukh, C. E. Beard, P. H. Adler & K. G. Kornev. 2013. Hydrophobic-hydrophilic dichotomy of the butterfly proboscis. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. [Featured in Science News].

Lehnert, M. S., C. E. Beard, P. D. Gerard, K. G. Kornev & P. H. Adler. 2016. Structure of the lepidopteran proboscis in relation to feeding guild. Journal of Morphology 277: 167-182.

Thanks Robert, i will lokk for them