wing case (wingkas)

The hard, horny case or cover which overlies the functional wing of wing-case many insects, especially of Coleoptera; the ely trum. In hemipterous insects the wing-cases are technically called hemielytra. Wing-cases are always the modified fore wings; when these wings are but little modified, as in orthopterous insects, they are called tegmina. See cuts under beetle, chrysalis, clavus, Coleoptera, and katydid. Also wing - cover.