Terminal contact elements of insect attachment devices studied by transmission X-ray microscopy

Eimüller, T.; Guttmann, Peter; Gorb, Stanislav N.

doi:10.1242/jeb.014308

Cited by 50 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…and width of the plate larger in insects than in geckos and spiders but also the thickness is greater, which is crucial for contact formation with rough substrata [beetle 400nm (Eimüller et al, 2008), fly 180nm (Bauchhenss 1979;Gorb, 1998); spider 30-40nm (estimated from this study); gecko 20nm (Persson and Gorb, 2003;Huber et al, 2005)]. …”

Section: Spatula Dimensions and Force Reductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Surface roughness effects on attachment ability of the spider Philodromus dispar (Araneae, Philodromidae)

Wolff¹,

Gorb²

2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYThe morphology of the tarsal attachment system of the running spider Philodromus dispar Walckenaer 1826 (Araneae, Philodomidae) was studied using scanning electron microscopy and its performance was experimentally tested in traction force measurements. Each pretarsus bears a hierarchically built hairy adhesive pad that consists of a dense array of flattened setae covered with numerous microtrichia on the substrate-facing side. Microtrichia carry spatulate end tips that allow close contact with the substrate. Forces were estimated on tethered living specimens on rough epoxy resin surfaces (asperity size 0.3, 1, 3, 9 and 12m) and on a smooth surface as a control. A strong reduction in adhesion was observed for substrates with an asperity size of 0.3 and 1m. Comparison of the present data with previous results of different organisms demonstrates that the difference in force reduction on rough substrata depends on the dimensions of terminal contact elements (spatulae).

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Section: Spatula Dimensions and Force Reductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Surface roughness effects on attachment ability of the spider Philodromus dispar (Araneae, Philodromidae)

Wolff¹,

Gorb²

2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Spatulae have a gradient of thickness from distal (thinner) to the basal (thicker) part ( Fig. 1 b, c) (Eimüller et al, 2008). On rough substrates, spatulae are partially able to adapt to the surface profile ( Fig.…”

Section: Microscopical Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shear induced adhesion: Contact mechanics of biological spatula-like attachment devices

Filippov¹,

Popov

Gorb

2011

Journal of Theoretical Biology

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Most biological hairy adhesive systems of insects, arachnids and reptiles, involved in locomotion, rely not on flat punches on their tips, but rather on spatulate structures. Several hypotheses have been previously proposed to explain the functional importance of this particular contact geometry: (1) enhancement of adaptability to the rough substrate; (2) contact formation by shear force rather than by normal load; (3) increase of total peeling line due to using an array of multiple spatulae; (4) contact breakage by peeling off. In the present paper, we used numerical approach to study dynamics of spatulate tips during contact formation on rough substrates. The model clearly demonstrates that the contact area increases under applied shear force, especially when spatulae are misaligned prior to the contact formation. Applied shear force has an optimum describing the situation when maximal contact is formed but no slip occurs. At such equilibrium maximal adhesion can be generated.This principle manifests the crucial role of spatulate terminal elements in biological fibrillar adhesion.

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“…Attachment to rough substrates is ensured by the presence of spatula-shaped thin tips of setae, providing an optimum adaptability to substrates as a result of the low bending stiffness and viscoelastic behaviour of the terminal plate (Persson and Gorb, 2003;Eimüller et al, 2008;Varenberg et al, 2011). We assume that such an optimum setal tip adaptation to the substrate with the largest wrinkles exists.…”

Section: Wrinkle Dimensions and Beetle Attachmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaf beetle attachment on wrinkles: isotropic friction on anisotropic surfaces

Voigt

Schweikart

Fery

et al. 2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARY The influence of surface roughness on the attachment ability of insects has been repeatedly reported. In previous experiments, complex surface topographies were used as test substrates, whereas periodical structures have so far been neglected. In the present study, traction experiments with adult beetles Gastrophysa viridula and Leptinotarsa decemlineata were carried out to study the influence of surfaces, structured with periodical wrinkles, on insect attachment. Force measurements were carried out on male and female insects, both intact and after removal of claws, performing tethered walking on five polydimethylsiloxane substrates: (i) smooth, non-structured (control), (ii–v) structured with wrinkles of different wavelengths (366, 502, 911 and 25,076 nm). In two test series, beetles walked either perpendicular or parallel to the wrinkle alignment. Adults of G. viridula produced generally higher forces than those of L. decemlineata. The results show that the alignment of wrinkles had no significant influence on the force generation by beetles, probably because of the skewed position of their tarsomeres relative to the substrates. In both sexes, the highest force values were obtained on surfaces with wrinkles of 25 μm wavelength. On other wrinkled substrates, forces were significantly reduced in both males and females compared with the smooth, flat control, with the minimum force achieved on wrinkles with a wavelength of 911 nm.

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Terminal contact elements of insect attachment devices studied by transmission X-ray microscopy

Cited by 50 publications

References 45 publications

Surface roughness effects on attachment ability of the spider Philodromus dispar (Araneae, Philodromidae)

Surface roughness effects on attachment ability of the spider Philodromus dispar (Araneae, Philodromidae)

Shear induced adhesion: Contact mechanics of biological spatula-like attachment devices

Leaf beetle attachment on wrinkles: isotropic friction on anisotropic surfaces

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