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Tape- and Spatula-Shaped Microstructures

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Book cover Attachment Structures and Adhesive Secretions in Arachnids

Part of the book series: Biologically-Inspired Systems ((BISY,volume 7))

Abstract

Spatula-like microstructures recruit adhesive forces by generating a close contact with the substrate due to elastic deformation. They usually occur at the tip of bendable hair-like structures, such as setae or microtrichia, whose shafts additionally contribute to the overall conformability of the attachment device. Such spatulate hairs have analogously evolved in the feet of different animal groups and are efficient means of dynamic attachment. The adhesive setae of geckoes are the best-known example of a dry adhesive, based on this principle, but very similarly sized and shaped structures are also present in many hunting spiders and various mites of the order Trombidiformes. Fluid supplemented setae with single, broad spatulae, as known from beetles and flies, are analogously present in some harvestmen of the order Laniatores and in hooded tickspiders (Ricinulei). A unique type of an adhesive pad with micro-spatulae as direct outgrowths of the epicuticle instead of the flattened tips of hairs is represented by the arolium of whip-spiders of the families Charinidae and Charontidae. These pads show contact mechanics and a dry adhesive mechanism comparable to that of the hairy adhesive pads of spiders, and are thus not comparable with other arolia having smooth surfaces. A special type of tape-like adhesive structure is the dragline silk of the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles spp.), which is tacky due to its thin, flattened shape.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute Kiel University, Kiel, Germany

    Jonas O. Wolff & Stanislav N. Gorb

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

    Jonas O. Wolff

Authors
  1. Jonas O. Wolff
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  2. Stanislav N. Gorb
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3.1 Electronic Supplementary Material

Video 3.1

Transmission light HSV of the foot of a Zoropsis spinimana (Zoropsidae), showing the spreading of the claw tuft. Recorded with 500 fps and playback with 25 fps (AVI 2091 kb)

Video 3.2

RICM-HSV of the claw tuft of a Zoropsis spinimana (Zoropsidae), showing the detachment of tenent microtrichia. In this species the claw tuft setae are not broadened. The setae in the right that stay in contact after claw tuft detachment are the frictional setae of the distal tarsus. Note minute traces left behind by the detaching tenent setae, which might be remains of a fluid secretion present on the spatulae. Recorded with 500 fps and playback with 15 fps (AVI 20809 kb)

Video 3.3

RICM-HSV of claw tuft setae of the ghost spider Anyphaena accentuata (Anyphaenidae), showing attachment and detachment of tenent microtrichia. This species exhibits very broad claw tuft setae. Recorded with 500 fps and playback with 15 fps (AVI 6567 kb)

Video 3.4

RICM-HSV of a claw tuft seta of the ghost spider Anyphaena accentuata (Anyphaenidae), showing detachment of tenent microtrichia. Recorded with 500 fps and playback with 15 fps (AVI 2259 kb)

Video 3.5

RICM-HSV of the claw tuft of an unidentified Palpimanidae from South-Africa, showing dry mode of adhesion (no traces of tenent setae left behind). Recorded with 500 fps and playback with 15 fps (AVI 9049 kb)

Video 3.6

RICM-HSV of the claw tuft of an unidentified Palpimanidae from South-Africa, showing wet mode of adhesion (fluid coating of claw tuft setae leaving droplets behind after detachment). Recorded with 500 fps and playback with 15 fps (AVI 2012 kb)

Video 3.7

RICM-HSV of the claw tuft of an unidentified Palpimanidae from South-Africa, showing semi-wet mode of adhesion (left claw tuft setae dry, and right claw tuft setae wet). Recorded with 500 fps and playback with 15 fps (AVI 1895 kb)

Video 3.8

RICM-HSV of claw tuft setae of an ablated leg of a Cupiennius salei spider (Ctenidae). In this experiment the contacting glass slide is sheared against the setae (proximal direction), causing a detachment of spatulae (AVI 3065 kb)

Video 3.9

RICM-HSV of a foot of the snout mite Cyta sp. (Bdellidae), showing attachment and detachment of the tenent empodium. Recorded with 1000 fps and playback with 15 fps (AVI 2209 kb)

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Wolff, J.O., Gorb, S.N. (2016). Tape- and Spatula-Shaped Microstructures. In: Attachment Structures and Adhesive Secretions in Arachnids. Biologically-Inspired Systems, vol 7. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45713-0_3

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