Composite structure and properties of the pitcher surface of the carnivorous plant Nepenthes and its influence on the insect attachment system

Wang, Lixin; Zhou, Qiang; Zheng, Yongjun; Xu, ShuYan

doi:10.1016/j.pnsc.2009.09.005

Cited by 33 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Nepenthes utilizes their terrestrial pitchers to attract and capture preys living on the ground, while aerial pitchers are used to attract and capture flying insects. The structure of terrestrial and aerial pitchers consists of tendril, body (waxy and digestive zones), lid, peristome and wing (Clarke 2001;Wang et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pitcher morphology and pitcher coloring of Nepenthes mirabilis Druce. from East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Handayani

Hadiah

2019

Biodiversitas

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Abstract. Handayani T, Hadiah JT. 2019. Pitcher morphology and pitcher coloring of Nepenthes mirabilis Druce. from East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 2824-2832. The shape and color of Nepenthes pitchers play an important role in attracting preys. The terrestrial and aerial pitchers have different shapes in accordance with different preys they trap. This species has high potential as an ornamental plant due to the pitcher’s varied sizes, shapes and colors, which information of the wild species is inadequate. This study aimed to identify the morphological characters, size, and colors of pitcher and its parts (tendril, pitcher body, lid, peristome, wing) of N. mirabilis growing in the wild in East Kalimantan. Samples for morphological observation comprised 90 terrestrial pitchers and 90 aerial pitchers, and samples for pitcher coloring observation comprised 650 terrestrial pitchers and 650 aerial pitchers. The results showed that the shape of terrestrial pitchers were narrowly ovoid in the lower part and cylindrical toward the top. The aerial pitchers were infundibular in the lower part, narrowly ovoid in the middle then cylindrical toward the top. The highest percentage of terrestrial pitcher tendril’s color was green and the aerial pitcher tendril’s was reddish green. Most pitcher body’s color was green in the lower part and green with purple stripes in the upper part on both terrestrial and aerial pitchers (21.07% and 16.15%, respectively). The wing color of both pitchers was mostly purplish dark red which possessed the highest percentages (30.31% and 40.64%, respectively). The dominant peristome color of terrestrial pitcher was brownish dark red (26.15%), whereas that of the aerial pitcher was purplish dark red (44.19%). The lid color of both terrestrial and aerial pitchers was mostly purplish dark red (38.92% and 31.39% respectively). Bright color was mostly found on the peristome and lid. It was found on 85.38% of terrestrial pitcher’s peristome, 95.22% of terrestrial pitcher’s lid, 81.43% of aerial pitcher’s peristome, and 98.77% of aerial pitcher’s lid. The presence of green color on tendril, pitcher and its parts indicates its function in photosynthesis, whereas the presence of bright color shows its role in capturing preys.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pitcher morphology and pitcher coloring of Nepenthes mirabilis Druce. from East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Handayani

Hadiah

2019

Biodiversitas

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“…Plant waxes in particular are known to cause problems for foraging insects (Eigenbrode, 2004;Markstadter et al, 2000;Riedel et al, 2003). The differing frictional coefficients of the wax surfaces alter the ability of insect foot secretions to wet plant surfaces (Gorb and Gorb, 2006;Wang et al, 2009). Frictional coefficients are used to describe the ratio of frictional force to normal load between two bodies, and are usually reported as static friction coefficients ( s ) for stationary objects and kinetic friction coefficients ( k ) for moving objects (Bowden and Tabor, 1950;Israelachvii, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of surface energy on the self-cleaning of insect adhesive devices

Orchard

Kohonen

Humphries

2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYThe ability of insects to adhere to surfaces is facilitated by the use of adhesive organs found on the terminal leg segments. These adhesive pads are inherently ʻtackyʼ and are expected to be subject to contamination by particulates, leading to loss of function. Here, we investigated the self-cleaning of ants and beetles by comparing the abilities of both hairy and smooth pad forms to selfclean on both high and low energy surfaces after being fouled with microspheres of two sizes and surface energies. We focused on the time taken to regain adhesive potential in unrestrained Hymenopterans (Polyrhachis dives and Myrmica scabrinodis) and Coccinellids (Harmonia axyridis and Adalia bipunctata) fouled with microspheres. We found that the reattainment of adhesion is influenced by particle type and size in Hymenopterans, with an interaction between the surface energy of the contaminating particle and substrate. In Coccinellids, reattainment of adhesion was only influenced by particle size and substrate properties. The adhesive organs of Coccinellids appear to possess superior self-cleaning abilities compared with those of Hymenopterans, although Hymenopterans exhibit better adhesion to both surface types.

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“…In general, four parts can typically be distinguished as the leaf-like lid covered with trichomes sparsely, a collar-like peristome bearing nectaries and bright color, a slippery zone covered with plenty of lunate cells and wax crystals, and a digestive zone possessing a pool of digestive fluid and regularly being covered with numerous digestive glands [4]. The slippery zone consists of downward-directed lunate cells and irregular epicuticular wax crystals [5,6]. Morphology and structural studies of the epicuticular wax layer exhibited that the wax coverage consisted of two superimposed layers of epicuticular wax crystals: the upper layer composed of wax platelets arranging parallel to the surface and overlapping each other and the lower layer was a complex network of partially fused crystals [5,7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Friction Force of Locust Locusta migratoria manilensis (Orthoptera, Locustidae) on Slippery Zones of Pitchers from Four Nepenthes Species

Wang

Zhou

2011

Tribol Lett

Self Cite

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Slippery zone of inner pitchers in Nepenthes species serves functions of trapping insect and restraining escape of prey being used as a main nitrogen and phosphorus source. To investigate the influence of the slippery zones from different Nepenthes species on friction force of insect possessing smooth adhesive pads and rigid claws, friction force of locust Locusta migratoria manilensis on slippery surface of pitchers from four Nepenthes species was measured. The friction force of locust was also measured on stainless steel plate for comparison. Different friction forces were showed among the four Nepenthes species (mainly 380-550 mN in imagines, 120-185 mN in larvae), and were apparently lower than on the stainless steel plates (mainly 650 mN in imagines, 230 mN in larvae). Surface morphologies and structures of the slippery zones were observed and analyzed with scanning electron microscope and scanning white-light interferometer to explain the discrimination of the friction force. The slippery zones from the selected Nepenthes species exhibited similar surface morphologies and structures, but differed obviously in the geometrical dimensions of the surface architectures, and the difference probably result in the discriminations of the locust's friction force. The obtained results contribute to further interpretation of the slippery zone's anti-attachment mechanism to insect and presumably supply suitable theoretical foundations for biomimeticing structure and function of the slippery zone to develop slippery plates for trapping plague locusts or other agricultural pests.

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Composite structure and properties of the pitcher surface of the carnivorous plant Nepenthes and its influence on the insect attachment system

Cited by 33 publications

References 44 publications

Pitcher morphology and pitcher coloring of Nepenthes mirabilis Druce. from East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Pitcher morphology and pitcher coloring of Nepenthes mirabilis Druce. from East Kalimantan, Indonesia

The influence of surface energy on the self-cleaning of insect adhesive devices

Friction Force of Locust Locusta migratoria manilensis (Orthoptera, Locustidae) on Slippery Zones of Pitchers from Four Nepenthes Species

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