Insects are among the most diverse groups of animals on the planet. Including more than a million described species and representing more than half of all known living organisms.
The numbers of extant species is estimated at between six and ten million, and potentially represent over 90 % of the differing animal life forms on Earth.
Some humans even regard certain insects as pests, and attempt to control them using insecticides and a host of other techniques. However, despite the fact of being weak against insecticides, if there is something that can’t hurt insects is bacteria!
When bacterium lands on the wing surface, the membrane that surrounds the one-celled microorganism sticks to the surface of the nano-sized pillars, whereupon it begins to stretch into the crevices between them.
Here, the bacterium’s membrane is under a lot of strain, and if it is soft enough, it will tear. In other words; their wings shred bacterium to pieces.