either of the horny front wings of beetles and some other insects, which cover and protect the hind wings
Derived forms
elytroid (ˈelyˌtroid) or elytrous (ˈelytrous)
adjective
Word origin
C18: from Greek elutron sheath, covering
Examples of 'elytra' in a sentence
elytra
Here we developed a species identification algorithm which utilizes images of microscopic elytra fragments.
Su Inn Park, Halil Bisgin, Hongjian Ding, Howard G. Semey, Darryl A. Langley, WeidaTong, Joshua Xu 2016, 'Species Identification of Food Contaminating Beetles by Recognizing Patterns in MicroscopicImages of Elytra Fragments', PLOS ONE10.1371/journal.pone.0157940. Retrieved from PLOS CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
The elytra were then separated from the specimens and imaged under a microscope.
Su Inn Park, Halil Bisgin, Hongjian Ding, Howard G Semey, Darryl A Langley, WeidaTong, Joshua Xu 2016, 'Species Identification of Food Contaminating Beetles by Recognizing Patterns in MicroscopicImages of Elytra Fragments.', PLoS ONEhttp://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4920424?pdf=render. Retrieved from PLOS CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
Their hind wings are thin and fragile under the protection of their elytra (forewings).
Jiyu Sun, Wei Wu, Mingze Ling, Bharat Bhushan, Jin Tong 2016, 'The hydraulic mechanism in the hind wing veins of Cybister japonicus Sharp (order:Coleoptera)', Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnologyhttps://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.7.82. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
The elytra cover the whole abdomen, with parallel lines along them.
Dwinardi Apriyanto, Ishak Manti 2006, 'Kumbang Pupus Pisang: Hama Baru?', Jurnal Perlindungan Tanaman Indonesiahttps://jurnal.ugm.ac.id/jpti/article/view/12070. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
The honeycomb sandwich structure in the beetle elytra make it meet the above requirements.
Jianxun Du, Peng Hao 2018, 'Investigation on Microstructure of Beetle Elytra and Energy Absorption Propertiesof Bio-Inspired Honeycomb Thin-Walled Structure under Axial Dynamic Crushing', Nanomaterialshttp://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/8/9/667. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
The wetting properties of these elytra were identified using an optical contact angle meter.
Mingxia Sun, Aiping Liang, Gregory S Watson, Jolanta A Watson, Yongmei Zheng, LeiJiang 2012, 'Compound microstructures and wax layer of beetle elytral surfaces and their influenceon wetting properties.', PLoS ONEhttp://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3464267?pdf=render. Retrieved from PLOS CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
The elytra, or hardened forewings, occupy a large portion of the body, and contain distinctive patterns.
Su Inn Park, Halil Bisgin, Hongjian Ding, Howard G. Semey, Darryl A. Langley, WeidaTong, Joshua Xu 2016, 'Species Identification of Food Contaminating Beetles by Recognizing Patterns in MicroscopicImages of Elytra Fragments', PLOS ONE10.1371/journal.pone.0157940. Retrieved from PLOS CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
The elytra play an important role in protecting the delicate hindwings and the dorsal surface of the abdomen.
Nasra M.H. Zohry, Ahmed Mohamed El-Sayed 2019, 'Morphology, histology, and chemistry of the wings of Tribolium castaneum and Triboliumconfusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)', Journal of Basic and Applied Zoologyhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41936-019-0082-6. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)