Attachment Devices of Insect CuticleIn 1974 when I published my book, Biological Mechanism of Attachment, not many pages were required to report on the attachment devices of insect cuticles. As in most fields of research, our knowledge on this specific subject has simply exploded. Dr. Stanislav N. Gorb now describes the present day level of our knowledge, to which he has personally contributed so much, and a research team working on biological microtribology has gradually developed, also. With modern methods of measurement it is possible to enter the structure – function relationship much more deeply, even down to a molecular level, which was not possible two and a half decades ago. It is a well known fact that, in biology, the more sophisticated the measuring method, the greater the achievement of biological fundamental research, and its resulting evidence. Our knowledge remains at a certain level until new methods once more permit a forward leap. Biological knowledge develops in the form of a stepped curve rather than linear, as reflected in the studies carried out on the attachment devices of insect cuticles. |
Contents
structure and properties of the material | 9 |
Principles of cuticular attachment in Arthropoda | 37 |
Dragonfly and damselfly headarresting system | 89 |
a comparison with other insects | 97 |
Coxotrochanteral locking mechanism in flies | 118 |
Secretions in frictional systems | 177 |
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Common terms and phrases
acanthae adapted adhesive adhesive force arolium arrester system arthropods attachment abilities attachment devices attachment pads attachment systems Bauchhenss beetle Biol biological body Chapter chitin claws Coenagrionidae Coleoptera contact area copulation corresponding coxa cuticle cuticular density Dermaptera Diptera distal dorsal dragonfly Eigenbrode elytra Entomol epicuticle epidermal cells euplantulae evolution female fixation flight fold friction force frictional systems function Gorb hairs hairy head Heteroptera hexapod hindwing hook-like hooks Hymenoptera insect interlock larvae layer Lepidoptera Libellulidae located male material mechanism medial membrane microfibrils microsculpture microtrichia microtrichia fields mites Morphol morphology muscles Odonata odonate outgrowths ovipositor parasitic plant surfaces plate pore canals postcervical sclerite posterior presumably pretarsus proboscis procuticle properties protuberances pulvilli Reduviidae resilin Richards sclerites secretion segments sensory setae shape smooth surfaces specialised species structures substrata substratum sucker tarsal tarsus tenent setae thorax trichoid sensilla trichomes ultrastructural unguitractor usually valvulae ventral wing wing-locking Zool