Wound-induced reactivation of developmental cuticle programmes in mature insects

Abstract The insect cuticle exoskeleton is among the most abundant and versatile biological structures. During ontogeny, the cuticle undergoes extensive modification, enabling insects to adapt to a wide range of ecological niches. In contrast, cuticular remodelling is generally thought to cease after adult emergence, raising the question of how mature insects respond to damage to their exoskeleton. To address this fundamental issue, we used an interdisciplinary experimental approach combining bi