How aphids lose their marbles
How aphids lose their marbles
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DOI：
10.1098/rspb.2002.1999
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发表时间：
2002-06-22
影响因子：
4.7
通讯作者：
Mahadevan, L
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Pike, N;Richard, D;Mahadevan, L
昆虫提供了许多狡猾的策略的例子，以科普生活在一个由表面力量主导的世界中的挑战。尽管是目前陆地环境的主人，但它们总是有被困在液体中的风险，它们通过蜡状和毛茸茸的表面来防止这种风险。这个问题在封闭的空间中特别严重，例如植物的瘿。蚜虫利用分泌的蜡有效地包裹和运输自己的排泄物，在2亿年前就解决了这个问题。在这里，我们报告这个巧妙的解决方案的物理和生理意义。分泌的粉末状蜡具有三种不同的作用：（i）它是疏水性的，（ii）它产生由弱压实的蜡针制成的显微粗糙的内瘿表面，使瘿超疏水，以及（iii）它包覆蜜露滴，将它们转化为液体大理石，其可以快速有效地移动。
Insects provide examples of many cunning stratagems to cope with the challenges of living in a world dominated by surface forces. Despite being the current masters of the land environment, they are at constant risk of being entrapped in liquids, which they prevent by having waxy and hairy surfaces. The problem is particularly acute in an enclosed space, such as a plant gall. Using secreted wax to efficiently parcel and transport their own excrement, aphids were able to solve this problem 200 Myr ago. Here, we report on the physical and physiological significance of this ingenious solution. The secreted powdery wax has three distinct roles: (i) it is hydrophobic, (ii) it creates a microscopically rough inner gall surface made of weakly compacted wax needles making the gall ultra-hydrophobic, and (iii) it coats the honeydew droplets converting them into liquid marbles, that can be rapidly and efficiently moved.