usatoday:

Study reveals how ladybugs fold their wings for flight

Riddle me this: What do ladybugs and origami have in common?

Answer: Both involve lots of folding. In origami, it’s with paper, and in ladybugs, it’s their delicate wings.

Japanese scientists were curious to learn how ladybugs folded their wings inside their shells, so they surgically removed several ladybugs’ outer shells (technically called elytra) and replaced them with glued-on, artificial clear silicon shells to peer at the wings’ underlying folding mechanism.

Why bother with such seemingly frivolous research?  It turns out that how the bugs naturally fold their wings can provide design hints for a wide range of practical uses for humans. This includes satellite antennas, microscopic medical instruments, and even everyday items like umbrellas and fans.