DOI: 10.5061/dryad.vhhmgqp16
title: Moth proboscis morphology material properties raw data

description: Insects have evolved unique structures that host a diversity of material
 and mechanical properties, and the mouthparts (proboscis) of butterflies
 and moths (Lepidoptera) are no exception. Here, we examined proboscis
 morphology and material properties from several previously unstudied moth
 lineages to determine if they relate to flower-visiting and
 non-flower-visiting feeding habits. Scanning electron microscopy and 3D
 imaging were used to study proboscis morphology and assess surface
 roughness patterns on the galeal surface, respectively. Confocal laser
 scanning microscopy was used to study patterns of cuticular
 autofluorescence, which was quantified with color analysis software. We
 found that moth proboscises display similar color and morphological
 patterns in relation to these feeding habits as those previously described
 for flower and non-flower-visiting butterflies. The distal region of
 proboscises of non-flower visitors is brush-like for augmented capillarity
 and exhibited blue autofluorescence, indicating the possible presence of
 resilin and increased flexibility. Flower visitors have smoother
 proboscises and show red autofluorescence, an indicator of high
 sclerotization, which is adaptive for floral tube entry. We propose the
 lepidopteran proboscis as a model structure for understanding how insects
 have evolved a suite of morphological and material adaptations to overcome
 the challenges of acquiring fluids from diverse sources.
description: Data was collected from moth proboscises using scanning electron
 microscopy and confocal microscopy. We conducted 12 proboscis measurments,
 which are represented in the table as "proboscis length",
 "drinking region length", "% drinking region",
 "dorsal legulae width in drinking region", "dorsal legulae
 width in nondrinking region", "sensilla styloconica
 number", "sensilla styloconica length", "sensilla
 styloconica density", and different surface roughness measurements
 gathered with 3D imaging on the scanning electron microscope. In addition,
 we quantified autofluorescence patterns of the proboscis cuticle using
 confocal microscopy and color quantification analysis software.
description: # Moth Proboscis Morphology Material Properties Raw Data
 ## Description of the data
 and file structure The data is structured as an Excel file with proboscis
 measurements shown in columns, in coordination with moth species and
 family in rows. The variable "Feeding Habit" refers to the
 feeding habits of the studied moths. For this study, moths were
 categorized as either flower visitors (F), nonflower visitors (NF), or
 unknown feeding habit (U), which was based on the research of moth feeding
 habits using field guides and various websites. Moth species with unknown
 feeding habits were assigned feeding habits based on proboscis morphology
 after the analysis. The variable "Forewing Lengths" was used as
 a relative indicator of moth size, and was measured from the base of the
 forewing to its apex. The variables "L*", "a*", and
 "b*" refer to the results of the color analysis. L* values
 relate to the lightness of a color and is on a scale from 0-100, the a*
 values are on a scale of -120 - 120, with the negative values representing
 green and positive values representing red, and the b* values also are on
 a scale from -120 - 120, with the negative values representing blue and
 the positive values representing yellow. These values, when combined
 together, represent a particular color. ## Sharing/Access information The
 information can be accessed through the link in the corresponding
 manuscript