Adhesive properties of Aphrophoridae spittlebug foam
Hannelore Hoch,
Martin Pingel,
Dagmar Voigt
et al.
Abstract:Aphrophora alni
spittlebug nymphs produce a wet foam from anal excrement fluid, covering and protecting themselves against numerous impacts. Foam fluid contact angles on normal (26°) and silanized glass (37°) suggest that the foam wets various substrates, including plant and arthropod surfaces. The pull-off force depends on the hydration state and is higher the more dry the fluid. Because the foam desiccates as fast as water, predators once captured struggle to free from drying foam, becoming stick… Show more
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