Multi-scale tarsal adhesion kinematics of freely-walking dock beetles

Capillary adhesion; Gastrophysa viridula; Insect biomechanics; Locomotion; Biped locomotion; Docks; Hydraulic structures; Image processing; Kinematics; Attachment and detachments; Horizontal substrates; Three-dimensional kinematics; Adhesion

Abstract :

[en] In this experimental study, living dock beetles are observed during their free upside-down walk on a smooth horizontal substrate. Their weight is balanced by the adhesion of hairy structures present on their tarsomeres. The motions involved in the attachment and detachment of these structures were characterized by simultaneously imaging the beetle from the side at the body scale, and from the top at the scale of a single tarsal chain. The observed multi-scale three-dimensional kinematics of the tarsi is qualitatively described, then quantified by image processing and physically modelled. A strong asymmetry is systematically observed between attachment and detachment kinematics, in terms of both timing and directionality. © 2017 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

Disciplines :

Engineering, computing & technology: Multidisciplinary, general & others

Author, co-author :

Gernay, Sophie-Marie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Form. doct. sc. ingé. (aérosp. & méca - Bologne)

Labousse, S.; Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Microfluidics Lab, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium

Lambert, Pierre; Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB

Compère, Philippe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Morphologie fonctionnelle et évolutive

Gilet, Tristan ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'aérospatiale et mécanique > Microfluidique

Language :

English

Title :

Multi-scale tarsal adhesion kinematics of freely-walking dock beetles

Publication date :

2017

Journal title :

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface

ISSN :

1742-5689

eISSN :

1742-5662

Publisher :

Royal Society Publishing

Volume :

Pages :

20170493

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 06 September 2018

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