Surface roughness, claw size and leg elasticity influences on the jumping of Acheta domesticus crickets

Lepore, Emiliano; Chappoz, C.; Monetta, D. Cipriano; Pugno, Nicola

doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2012.09.045

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…According to these findings, it is likely that the morphology of the walking legs is important in the habitat adaptation of N. cinerea. Such adaptation of the claw was already proven in the case of the cricket Acheta domesticus L., 1758 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) (Lepore et al 2013) and the water mayfly Epeorus assimilis Eaton, 1855 (Ephemeroptera: Heltageniidae) (Ditsche-Kuru et al 2012). Shorter claws on the middle leg of the corixid Arctocorisa carinata proved to be advantageous for grasping to the bottom (Jansson & Pajunen 1978).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Some morphological characteristics of the water scorpion Nepa cinerea (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) are associated with habitat type

Bakonyi¹,

Peták²,

Erős³

et al. 2016

Acta Zool Acad Sci H

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Morphological variation can enable species to successfully survive and reproduce in distinct habitats. Water scorpion (Nepa cinerea Linnaeus, 1758) occurs in different aquatic habitats from lentic to lotic conditions. We examined the morphology of N. cinerea collected from a diverse array of habitat types (creeks, canals, ponds) in order to explore possible morphological adaptations to the habitat. We addressed the following specific questions: (i) is there any morphological differences between specimens collected from distinct habitats, and if so, (ii) is it possible to relate differences in morphology of the N. cinerea to characteristics of the habitat structure? Altogether 121 individuals (69 males and 52 females) were sampled from 17 sampling sites in the catchment area of Lake Balaton (Hungary). 54 body parameters were determined on all individuals. According to five habitat parameters (bottom quality, current velocity of the water, water depth, submerse plant density, shading) sampling sites were clustered into two distinct groups. Submerse plant density proved to be the most important discriminating factor between the two groups. The morphology of the N. cinerea (both males and females) sampled from the two contrasting habitat types were different. No relationship was found between geographical position of the habitat type and body morphology of N. cinerea. Leg morphology, especially claws on the third leg and some body shape parameters showed relationships with habitat characteristics. These morphological variations, which may be the result of phenotypic plasticity, could contribute to an opportunistic habitat choice of the species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Some morphological characteristics of the water scorpion Nepa cinerea (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) are associated with habitat type

Bakonyi¹,

Peták²,

Erős³

et al. 2016

Acta Zool Acad Sci H

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“…Claw interlock on a rough surface is also crucial for the jump of house crickets ( Acheta domesticus ); the longest jumps occurred with a higher friction, i.e. when the average particle diameter of the substrate was similar in size to the insect's claw diameter [ 31 ]. Finally, when the experiments were performed we only had the heavy rough trackball available.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Substrate texture affects female cricket walking response to male calling song

2018

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Field crickets are extensively used as a model organism to study female phonotactic walking behaviour, i.e. their attraction to the male calling song. Laboratory-based phonotaxis experiments generally rely on arena or trackball-based settings; however, no attention has been paid to the effect of substrate texture on the response. Here, we tested phonotaxis in female Gryllus bimaculatus, walking on trackballs machined from methyl-methacrylate foam with different cell sizes. Surface height variations of the trackballs, due to the cellular composition of the material, were measured with profilometry and characterized as smooth, medium or rough, with roughness amplitudes of 7.3, 16 and 180 µm. Female phonotaxis was best on a rough and medium trackball surface, a smooth surface resulted in a significant lower phonotactic response. Claws of the cricket foot were crucial for effective walking. Females insert their claws into the surface pores to allow mechanical interlocking with the substrate texture and a high degree of attachment, which cannot be established on smooth surfaces. These findings provide insight to the biomechanical basis of insect walking and may inform behavioural studies that the surface texture on which walking insects are tested is crucial for the resulting behavioural response.

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“…On the other hand, claws are known to generate large forces for attaching to rough surfaces [32][33][34][35][36]. The body is supported by hooking the claws on a rough protrusion or by inserting the claws into a depression.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smooth and slipless walking mechanism inspired by the open–close cycle of a beetle claw

Shima¹,

Gan²,

Umezu³

et al. 2020

Bioinspir. Biomim.

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This study investigated the function of the beetle’s claw for its smooth and slipless walking and designed an artificial claw open–close cycle mechanism to mimic the beetle’s walking. First, the effects of claw opening and closing on beetles’ ability to attach to surfaces were examined. A beetle does not have an attachment pad, and only its claws work to grip the ground; its claw opens and closes and attaches with two sharp hooks. With their claws, beetles can smoothly walk, neither slipping on nor having their claws stuck in the surface. How do they perform smooth walking with sharp claws? In this study, we observed that beetles close their claws when they raise and swung their legs forward, while they open their claws when they lowered their legs to the ground. We then conducted non-destructive tests: their claws were forced open or closed. There was a significant difference in the trajectories of forced-closed claws compared to intact claws and forced-open claws. When their claws were forced-closed, this caused slippage in walking. On the other hand, when a claw was forced-open and its rotation was also inhibited, the claw stuck heavily in the surface, and the beetle could not walk. Based on these findings, we designed an artificial claw to open and close in the same cyclic manner as in the case of natural beetles. The performance of the artificial claw was consistent with the conclusions drawn from natural beetles: the locomotive robot with the artificial claw smoothly moved without slippage. Through these observations, non-destructive tests and performance of the bio-inspired artificial claws, this study confirmed the function of the open–close cycle of beetle claws and demonstrated and successfully adopted it for a locomotive robot.

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Surface roughness, claw size and leg elasticity influences on the jumping of Acheta domesticus crickets

Cited by 6 publications

References 42 publications

Some morphological characteristics of the water scorpion Nepa cinerea (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) are associated with habitat type

Some morphological characteristics of the water scorpion Nepa cinerea (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) are associated with habitat type

Substrate texture affects female cricket walking response to male calling song

Smooth and slipless walking mechanism inspired by the open–close cycle of a beetle claw

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