This project is concerned with understanding insect development of the cuticle, and what trade-offs may exist in weapon construction in the fighting insect Narnia femorata. As part of a summer REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates), I assisted in rearing immature and adult insects on natural diets ranging in quality and sampling their spiny hindlegs to understand how nutrition impacts cuticle development. My responsibilities included collecting and monitoring cacti, rearing insects, greenhouse planting and sampling legs to be sent for synchotron imaging. Currently, I am working on a project concerning an important part of the insect's sexually selected weapon: its spines. Insects reared on different diets differ in whether their spines bend or break under pressure. My duties within the project are establishing a sound methodology for assessing spine damage and scoring videos and voltage crush traces of insects in different treatments.