Form and function: Investigating the influence of structural deformation of leafhopper brochosomes on leafhopper surface hydrophobicity

Leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) produce and coat themselves with unique, extra-cuticular particles called brochosomes. These hollow geometric nanoparticles, made of proteins and lipids, make the cuticle antireflective and superhydrophobic, serving an important role to keep leafhoppers undetected, clean, and dry. The majority of brochosomes are described as integumental brochosomes and typically resemble hollow dodecahedrons and truncated icosahedrons. However, some female leafhopper species produce solid cylindrical brochosomes, called egg brochosomes, that are used specifically to coat egg nests. In this study, we compare the wettability of integumental brochosomes and egg brochosomes. Additionally, we use compression force to artificially deform integumental brochosomes, followed by wettability testing to investigate the importance of the three-dimensional structure of brochosomes on leafhopper cuticle superhydrophobicity. Our work provides valuable insight into the guided design of novel hydrophobic materials inspired by brochosomes.