CHANGES IN CHEMICAL AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF HONEYBEE (APIS-MELLIFERA-ADANSONII L) CUTICLE DURING DEVELOPMENT

1. The non-extractability of cuticular proteins in formamide and sodium hydroxide, and the elastic modulus, breaking stress, relative stiffness and breaking strain of abdominal cuticle from different developmental stages of adult worker honeybees (Apis mellifera adansonii L.) were examined as a function of developmental age. 2. All of these properties were found to be age dependent. 3. The mechanical properties varied in direct proportion to the amount of sodium hydroxide non-extractable protein, and hence the degree of matrix stabilization. © 1978 Springer-Verlag.