The correlation between Paleopteran wing vein density and body size

Presenting Author(s)

Christopher Peter Noll

Student
Stanford University
Burlingame, California, United States

Co-Author(s)

Sandra Schachat

Coleman F. Fung Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellow
Stanford University
Stanford, California, United States
JP

Jonathan Payne

Professor of Geological Sciences
Stanford University
Stanford, California, United States
KB

Kevin Boyce

Chair of the Department of Geological Sciences
Stanford University
Stanford, California, United States

Insect wing vein density is a measurement of how densely an insect’s wings are covered with veins. This study investigates how paleopteran insect wing vein density trends change with insect order and wing length. The concept of wing vein density is significant due to the optimization necessary for an insect to utilize its wing vein network reliably. Akin to the veins of other organisms, insect wing veins are crucial for their role in transmitting nutrients and oxygen. Endemically, however, insect wing veins must also act as a stalwart mechanical skeleton that stiffens the wing, protect the wings against catastrophic fractures, and allow for sensory information transference. Despite these benefits, however, an overly-large wing vein density can disastrously stiffen and encumber the wing. Hence, the study of insect wing vein density on the diverse and well-documented division of paleopteran insects can provide valuable insights into how wing vein density differs between insects of various sizes and lifestyles. For example, the comparison and analysis of the generally broader wings of the predacious meganeurids and the generally smaller wings of the reproductive ephemeropterids can provide insight into if and how their wing venation supports their activity. In addition, wing vein density optimization is especially pertinent to the creation of larger micro-air vehicles while maintaining wing durability and longevity.