SMOOTH ATTACHMENT PADS OF INSECTS: CORRELATION BETWEEN MATERIAL STRUCTURE, STIFFNESS AND ADHESION

摘要

The pad material structure was found to be different in the two species. L. migratoria pads bear a thick sub-superficial layer, as well as a higher density of rods. The indentation experiments showed a higher effective elastic modulus and a lower work of adhesion for L, migratoria pads. When the indentations were made at different depths, a higher effective elastic modulus was revealed at lower indentation depths in both species. This effect is explained by the higher stiffness of the superficial pad layer. The obtained results demonstrate a clear correlation between density of the fibers, thickness of the superficial layer, compliance of the pad, and its adhesive properties. Such material structures and properties may be dependent on the preferred environment of each species.