Defense by foot adhesion in a chrysomelid beetle (Hemisphaerota cyanea): Characterization of the adhesive oil

Athula B. Attygalle, Daniel J. Aneshansley, Jerrold Meinwald, Thomas Eisner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

The beetle Hemisphaerota cyanea, when disturbed, secures a tight foothold on the substrate, whereby it is able to resist pulls of upward of 200 times its body mass. The grip is mediated by thin film adhesion, through use of an oil, which wets the contact pads at the tips of the 60,000 tarsal bristles of the beetle. We have found the oil to consist of a mixture of C22 to C29 n-alkanes and n-alkenes, providing additional support for the notion that tarsal oils are mixtures reflective of the general cuticular hydrocarbon output of insects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-6
Number of pages6
JournalZoology
Volume103
Issue number1-2
StatePublished - 2000

Keywords

  • Alkanes
  • Alkenes
  • Coleoptera
  • Cuticular hydrocarbons
  • Insect locomotion
  • Tarsal adhesion

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