Unique physical, chemical properties of cicada wings

Researchers have shown that the chemical compounds that coat cicada wings contribute to their ability to repel water and kill microbes. Previous studies have shown that cicadas have a highly ordered pattern of tiny pillars, called nanopillars, on their wings. The new study revealed that cicada wings are coated in hydrocarbons, fatty acids, and oxygen-containing molecules. The oxygen-containing molecules were most abundant deep in the nanopillars, while hydrocarbons and fatty acids made up more of the outermost nanopillar layers. The study also revealed that altering these surface chemicals changed the nanopillar structure and the wings' wettability and anti-microbial characteristics.