Chemical compounds that coat cicada wings also contribute to their ability to repel water and kill microbes, says a new study published in the journal Advanced Materials: Interfaces. Neotibicen pruinosus and Magicicada casinnii and their wings with the relevant cells labeled (top). Scale representations of the material removed throughout the chemical extractions (orange: 1 min; dark gray: 5 min; blue: 20 min) and the remaining pillar height (light...
