近日,，日本物質(zhì)和材料研究機(jī)構(gòu)的研究人員在利用金花蟲進(jìn)行的實驗中發(fā)現(xiàn)，生活在陸地的昆蟲依靠其腳掌纖毛儲存的氣泡,，在水中也能牢牢抓住物體表面行走,。8月8日出版的英國科學(xué)雜志《皇家學(xué)會生物學(xué)分會學(xué)報》（Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences ）刊登了論文。
金花蟲體長8毫米左右,，如同小型的金龜子,。研究人員將塑料板放在深1.5厘米的水中,，觀察金花蟲在塑料板上行走的情形,。他們發(fā)現(xiàn)，金花蟲利用腳掌纖毛內(nèi)儲存的氣泡驅(qū)走腳掌與塑料板之間的水。同時,，它還利用腳掌纖毛分泌的黏性液體,，使腳掌牢牢黏結(jié)在塑料板上。當(dāng)它的腳掌從塑料板上抬起的時候,，則將氣泡一起帶走,。
這種纖毛長約60至70微米，密集分布在金花蟲的腳掌上,，是一種很容易儲存氣泡的結(jié)構(gòu),。
研究人員認(rèn)為，昆蟲能在水中輕松地吸附和離開物體,，這一機(jī)理有助于開發(fā)不使用化學(xué)黏結(jié)劑的“綠色黏結(jié)”方式,。細(xì)田奈麻繪說，這一機(jī)理還有望用于研發(fā)水中作業(yè)機(jī)器人的腿部,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi:10.1098/rspb.2012.1297
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Underwater locomotion in a terrestrial beetle: combination of surface de-wetting and capillary forces
Naoe Hosoda1,* and Stanislav N. Gorb2
For the first time, we report the remarkable ability of the terrestrial leaf beetle Gastrophysa viridula to walk on solid substrates under water. These beetles have adhesive setae on their feet that produce a secretory fluid having a crucial role in adhesion on land. In air, adhesion is produced by capillary forces between the fluid-covered setae and the substrate. In general, capillary forces do not contribute to adhesion under water. However, our observations showed that these beetles may use air bubbles trapped between their adhesive setae to walk on flooded, inclined substrata or even under water. Beetle adhesion to hydrophilic surfaces under water was lower than that in air, whereas adhesion to hydrophobic surfaces under water was comparable to that in air. Oil-covered hairy pads had a pinning effect, retaining the air bubbles on their feet. Bubbles in contact with the hydrophobic substrate de-wetted the substrate and produced capillary adhesion. Additional capillary forces are generated by the pad's liquid bridges between the foot and the substrate. Inspired by this idea, we designed an artificial silicone polymer structure with underwater adhesive properties.
