Adhesive properties of Aphrophoridae spittlebug foam

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Hannelore Hoch - , Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science (Autor:in)
  • Martin Pingel - , Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science (Autor:in)
  • Dagmar Voigt - , Professur für Botanik (Autor:in)
  • Urs Wyss - , Entofilm (Autor:in)
  • Stanislav Gorb - , Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU) (Autor:in)

Abstract

Aphrophora alni spittlebug nymphs produce a wet foam from anal excrement fluid, covering and protecting themselves against numerous impacts. Foam fluid contact angles on normal (26°) and silanized glass (37°) suggest that the foam wets various substrates, including plant and arthropod surfaces. The pull-off force depends on the hydration state and is higher the more dry the fluid. Because the foam desiccates as fast as water, predators once captured struggle to free from drying foam, becoming stickier. The present study confirms that adhesion is one of the numerous foam characteristics resulting in multifunctional effects, which promote spittlebugs' survival and render the foam a smart, biocompatible material of biological, biomimetic and biomedical interest. The sustainable ‘reuse' of large amounts of excrement for foam production and protection of the thin nymph integument suggests energetic and evolutionary advantages. Probably, that is why foam nests have evolved in different groups of organisms, such as spittlebugs, frogs and fish.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer20230521
FachzeitschriftJournal of the Royal Society interface
Jahrgang21
Ausgabenummer210
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 10 Jan. 2024
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 85182087292
PubMed 38196374

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Animals, Arthropods, Biocompatible Materials, Biological Evolution, Biomimetics, Glass