Arolium

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Francis Walker (1851): Tarsus
1 Claw ( Unguis )
2 Pulvillus
3 Empodium
4 Arolium

The arolium ( Greek arusthai = to be sprouted) is the unpaired, lobed appendix of the last limb (pretarsus) at the foot ( tarsus ) of insects , which lies between or under the claws.

The arolium is mostly used as an adhesive cloth. Its function is to increase the adhesion between the tarsus and smooth surfaces. While the grip is achieved on rough surfaces by using the end claws, the microstructure of the arolium enables a better grip on smoother surfaces. This is achieved by a thin liquid film between the surface and the arolium, which leads to an increase in adhesion . If the grip of the claws is insufficient, they are retracted and the arolium is pumped up with a liquid that is secreted from a gland. The arolium, which is also covered by a film of liquid, now protrudes between the claws and is placed on the surface. In the next step, it can be deflated or pumped up again in a fraction of a second as required.

For this purpose, the arolium is used, for example, in hymenoptera , two-winged birds and fringed winged birds . With the gladiator horror it is also used to perceive vibrations.

swell

  • Erwin Hentschel, Günther Wagner: Zoological dictionary. 4th edition. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena 1990, ISBN 3-334-00348-5 .
  • Oliver Zompro: Mantophasmatodea - gladiators in the insect kingdom. In: Arthropoda. 16 (1) March 2008, Syngaya-Verlag, Kiel. ISSN  0943-7274

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