Surface roughness rather than surface chemistry essentially affects insect adhesion

Abstract

SummaryThe attachment ability of ladybird beetles Coccinella septempunctata was systematically investigated on eight types of surface, each with different chemical and topographical properties. The results of traction force tests clearly demonstrated that chemical surface properties, such as static/dynamic de-wettability of water and oil caused by specific chemical compositions, had no significant effect on the attachment of the beetles. Surface roughness was found to be the dominant factor, strongly affecting the attachment ability of the beetles.

Tarsal attachment devices of the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

“…The attachment devices of the green stinkbug N. viridula comprise two strongly sclerotised claws, a pair of smooth flexible pulvilli arising from sclerotised basipulvilli and a hairy adhesive pad located at the ventral side of the basitarsus, with no evident sexual dimorphism. The absence of sexual dimorphism suggests that in N. viridula both types of adhesive pads are not involved in a specific courtship or/and copulation behaviour, in contrast to some flies (Gorb, ; Friedemann, Schneeberg, & Beutel, ) and beetles (Voigt, Schuppert, Dattinger, & Gorb, ; England et al, ).…”

Straightforward and precise approach to replicate complex hierarchical structures from plant surfaces onto soft matter polymer

“…Surface functionalities are prominent when two counterparts come into contact and play an important role in the system's performance and efficiency [ 1 – 3 ]. This stands for most physical human-made as well as biological systems and two major parameters have to be taken into consideration: surface structuring and chemistry [ 4 , 5 ]. It is often crucial to fine-tune the frictional and adhesive properties of manufactured systems, when the surface-to-volume ratio gets tremendously increased in micro-contact applications (MEMS devices).…”

“…Within this context, biological surface structures may serve as role model to develop biomimetic and bioinspired surfaces and devices [ 21 ]. Furthermore, the production of precise polymer replicas of biological surfaces may help by allowing the investigation of structure influence on surface functionality, independently to surface chemistry [ 4 , 5 ].…”

Role of Fruit Epicuticular Waxes in Preventing Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) Attachment in Different Cultivars of Olea europaea

“…A significant decrease in the attachment force on artificial surfaces with an increasing surface contact angle has been reported also in another Diptera species, C. capitata [32], and in different other insect species belonging to Coleoptera, such as Gastrophysa viridula (De Geer) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) [22], Cylas puncticolis Boheman (Coleoptera, Brentidae) [56], Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant, (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) [57] and Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) females [24,58] as well as to Heteroptera, such as N. viridula [55]. These results are explained by the reduction of the attachment force on microstructured substrates owing to the reduced role of the adhesive fluid in generation of capillary forces, by either too low or too strong affinity of the insect adhesive fluid to the microstructured substrates [59]. However, in the beetle Galerucella nymphaeae (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) [60], insects showed the highest forces on rather smooth surfaces with a water contact angle of 83 • (similar to that of the host plant), while hydrophilic (contact angle of 6 • and 26 • ) and hydrophobic (contact angle of 109 • ) surfaces caused a reduction of their attachment ability.…”