Insect Science (2011) 18, 298-304

James M.R. Bullock and Walter Federle (2011)
The effect of surface roughness on claw and adhesive hair performance in the dock beetle Gastrophysa viridula
Insect Science 18 (3), 298-304
Abstract: Natural adhesive systems are adapted to attach to rough surfaces, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully clarified. Attachment forces for the beetle Gastrophysa viridula were recorded on epoxy casts of surfaces with different roughness using a centrifuge device. Replicas were made of standardized polishing paper with asperity sizes ranging from 0.05 to 30 μm and of dock leaves (Rumex obtusifolius). Beetles adhered with a safety factor of up to 36 times body weight on smooth substrates or on casts of leaves of their host plant. On the rough substrates, forces were much lower and a minimum at small scale roughness (0.05 μm asperity size, with a mean safety factor of 5) was observed. Removal of the claws led to a significant reduction in force for rough substrates with asperity sizes > 12 μm. Attachment forces of the hairy adhesive system itself (without the claws) slightly increased from small-scale to large-scale surface roughness, but remained below the level seen on the smooth substrate. This is explained by the inability of setal tips to make full contact to the surface.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Rumex obtusifolius (weed)
Gastrophysa viridula (weed bioagent)	Rumex obtusifolius (weed)