Grain boundaries and coincidence site lattices in the corneal nanonipple structure of the Mourning Cloak butterfly

• Ken C. Lee and
• Uwe Erb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2013, 4, 292–299, doi:10.3762/bjnano.4.32

• depending on nipple height, which can vary from less than 50 nm to over 200 nm [3]. The advantages of compound eyes with corneal nipple structures, compared to flat lens surfaces observed in many other insects, have been discussed in numerous studies, e.g., [5][6][7]. Most importantly, these structures

• reduce the reflection of light from the surface of the eye, due to the gradient in the refractive index in the near surface region. This is important for nocturnal insects such as moths, because it gives a better low-light vision (moth-eye effect). The reduced light reflection also provides an antiglare

Impact of cell shape in hierarchically structured plant surfaces on the attachment of male Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)

• Bettina Prüm,
• Robin Seidel,
• Holger Florian Bohn and
• Thomas Speck

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 57–64, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.7

• optical properties of the plant surface, and can either improve or impede attachment of insects [1][2]. Structuring of epidermal surfaces such as leaves, petals and stems is manifold and occurs on different levels, leading to hierarchical organisation [3]. Both the shape and orientation of surface

• angiosperm petals [2]. The function of papillate epidermal cells in petals has been investigated in several studies in the recent years (reviewed in [2]) and the cellular structure was reported to influence the colour and wetting properties of the flower and to improve the grip of pollinating insects [6]. At

• and have been proposed to increase slipperiness [12]. In some kettle trap flowers, as well as on many leaves and petals, noninclined convex or papillate cells covered with either wax crystals or cuticular folds are found. However, their impact on the attachment ability of insects remains unclear and

The effect of surface anisotropy in the slippery zone of Nepenthes alata pitchers on beetle attachment

• Elena V. Gorb and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 302–310, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.35

• contributions, from claw interlocking and pad adhesion, to insect attachment on the pitcher surfaces, intact versus claw-ablated beetles were used in the second type of experiment. On both de-waxed plant samples and their replicas, intact insects generated much higher forces in the downward direction compared

• to the upward one, whereas clawless insects did not. These results led to the conclusion that, (i) due to the particular shape of lunate cells, the pitcher surface has anisotropic properties in terms of insect attachment, and (ii) claws were mainly responsible for attachment enhancement in the

• highly viscous thus preventing trapped insects from escaping [12][13]. Although the slippery zone, situated inside the pitcher just below the peristome in the majority of Nepenthes species, was recognised long ago as an important structure for insect trapping and retention, due to its particular downward

Determination of object position, vortex shedding frequency and flow velocity using artificial lateral line canals

• Adrian Klein and
• Horst Bleckmann

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 276–283, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.32

• skin and are found in crustaceans [1], as well as in spiders and insects [2]. These sensors enable insects and spiders to perceive air displacements down to flow amplitudes of 30 μm/s [3]. Flow sensors are also found in fish and aquatic amphibians and are called lateral line neuromasts. With neuromasts

• (including distance) of the object and the direction of object motion [15]. The sensory hairs of crustaceans, insects and spiders and the lateral line system of fish have inspired engineers to develop artificial air [16] and water flow sensors [17][18][19] based on microelectromechanical system (MEMS

• sensory hairs of insects and spiders [16][23] and to the superficial neuromast system of fish. However, an engineering equivalent of the fish lateral line canal system did not previously exist, and therefore we have built artificial lateral line canals (ALLCs) and equipped them with artificial neuromasts

Sorting of droplets by migration on structured surfaces

• Wilfried Konrad and
• Anita Roth-Nebelsick

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 215–221, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.25

• achieved. For example, different chemical reactants can be directed to different “assembly” lines. Also the speed of the droplets can be controlled. Surfaces similar to our patterns are not uncommon in nature. Insects show a wide variety of ornamentations of their cuticle, their compound eyes and wings [10

Moisture harvesting and water transport through specialized micro-structures on the integument of lizards

• Philipp Comanns,
• Christian Effertz,
• Florian Hischen,
• Konrad Staudt,
• Wolfgang Böhme and
• Werner Baumgartner

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 204–214, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.24

• (2) it must be transported to the place of ingestion. It is well known that not only insects (e.g., the famous Namibian tenebrionid beetles) but also several deserticolous and savanicolous lizards are able to collect water with their integument, and this ability has been termed "rain harvesting" [1

Infrared receptors in pyrophilous (“fire loving”) insects as model for new un-cooled infrared sensors

• David Klocke,
• Anke Schmitz,
• Helmut Soltner,
• Herbert Bousack and
• Helmut Schmitz

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 186–197, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.22

• membrane compared to water. Keywords: fire detection; forest fire; Golay cell; infrared sensor; pyrophilous insects; Introduction Fire loving (pyrophilous) insects depend on forest fires for their reproduction. Such insects approach ongoing fires and invade the burnt area immediately after a fire. For

• the long-range navigation toward a fire as well as for the short-range orientation on a freshly burnt area these insects have special sensors for smoke and infrared (IR) radiation. Whereas the olfactory receptors for smoke are located on the antennae, the IR receptors are housed in extra-antennal

• , the outbreak of a forest fire is highly unpredictable. Therefore, pyrophilous beetles and bugs must be able to detect fires from distances as large as possible. Furthermore, when flying over a burnt area in search for a place to land, the small insects have to avoid “hot spots” with dangerous surface

Superhydrophobicity in perfection: the outstanding properties of the lotus leaf

• Hans J. Ensikat,
• Petra Ditsche-Kuru,
• Christoph Neinhuis and
• Wilhelm Barthlott

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 152–161, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.19

• ]. Superhydrophobic surfaces which feature permanent air retention under water are found on animals (some birds, spiders and insects). An outstanding air-retention capability is found, for example, for the aquatic insect Notonecta glauca (‘backswimmer’) [26][27]. Here the water repellency is created by a two-level

Superhydrophobic surfaces of the water bug Notonecta glauca: a model for friction reduction and air retention

• Petra Ditsche-Kuru,
• Erik S. Schneider,
• Jan-Erik Melskotte,
• Martin Brede,
• Alfred Leder and
• Wilhelm Barthlott

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 137–144, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.17

• the air film on most superhydrophobic surfaces usually lasts no longer than a few days, a few semi-aquatic plants and insects are able to hold an air film over a longer time period. Currently, we found high air film persistence under hydrostatic conditions for the elytra of the backswimmer Notonecta

• extremely interesting as a biomimetic model for low friction fluid transport or drag reduction on ship hulls. Keywords: air film; aquatic insects; backswimmer; drag reduction; superhydrophobic surfaces; Introduction Superhydrophobic surfaces are of great economic interest because of their amazing

• applications of air retaining surfaces for low friction fluid transport and drag reduction on ship hulls, the durability of the air film is most important. While on many superhydrophobic surfaces the air film usually lasts no longer than a few days, some semi-aquatic plants and insects are able to hold an air