noun
- Plural of epicuticle; the outermost, waxy or lipid-rich layer of the cuticle in insects and other arthropods.
Usage: technical; biology
Examples
- The epicuticles of beetles provide waterproofing and protection from environmental stress.
- Researchers examined the epicuticles under an electron microscope to study their ultrastructure.
- The epicuticles of insects are composed primarily of lipids and waxes.
- Damage to the epicuticles can compromise an arthropod's ability to retain moisture.