DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1985.tb03536.x. The adhesive organ of the blowfly, Calliphora vomitoria: a functional approach (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

The adhesive organ of the blowfly, Calliphora vomitoria: a functional approach (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

10.1111/j.1469-7998.1985.tb03536.x

Crossref journal-article

Wiley

Journal of Zoology (311)

Abstract

The external morphology of the terminal region of the fifth tarsal segment of the blowfly, Calliphora vomitoria (L.) has been studied using light and scanning electron microscopy (S.E.M.). The pulvilli, with their numerous tenent hairs of spatulate form projecting from the ventral surface, are responsible for adhesion to smooth surfaces. The two large claws are believed to be important in clinging to irregularities in surfaces. Two footplates, possibly sensory organs, lie in close association with the base of the large ventral seta, the empodium. Blowflies release a non‐volatile lipid secretion on to the spatulate ends of the tenent hairs and this secretion is essential to the adhesion process on smooth surfaces. The force of adhesion has been measured for tethered blowflies on glass using both vertical and lateral pulls; lateral pulls gave much greater forces. It is concluded that surface tension of the lipid secretion under tenent hairs is sufficient to enable successful adhesion to smooth surfaces by blowflies.

Bibliography

Walker, G., Yulf, A. B., & Ratcliffe, J. (1985). The adhesive organ of the blowfly, Calliphora vomitoria: a functional approach (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Journal of Zoology, 205(2), 297â307. Portico.

Authors 3

G. Walker (first)
A. B. Yulf (additional)
J. Ratcliffe (additional)

References 21 Referenced 134

{'key': 'e_1_2_1_2_1', 'first-page': '445', 'volume-title': 'The insect integument', 'author': 'Barth F. G.', 'year': '1976'} / The insect integument by Barth F. G. (1976)
{'key': 'e_1_2_1_3_1', 'first-page': '99', 'article-title': 'Die Pulvillen von Calliphora erythrocephala (Diptera, Brachycera) als Adhasionsorgane', 'volume': '93', 'author': 'Bauchhenss E.', 'year': '1979', 'journal-title': 'Zoo-morphologie'} / Zoo-morphologie / Die Pulvillen von Calliphora erythrocephala (Diptera, Brachycera) als Adhasionsorgane by Bauchhenss E. (1979)
10.1016/0020-7322(77)90010-1
{'key': 'e_1_2_1_5_1', 'first-page': '1', 'article-title': 'The adhesive pads of Heteroptera: a re‐examination', 'volume': '45', 'author': 'Edwards J. S.', 'year': '1970', 'journal-title': 'Proc. R. ent. Soc, Lond. (A)'} / Proc. R. ent. Soc, Lond. (A) / The adhesive pads of Heteroptera: a re‐examination by Edwards J. S. (1970)
10.1098/rspb.1932.0061
10.1007/BF02568741
{'key': 'e_1_2_1_8_1', 'first-page': '115', 'article-title': 'Über das Haften von Insekten an glatten Flächen‐Herkunft der Adhäsions‐fiussigkeit', 'volume': '99', 'author': 'Hasenfuss I.', 'year': '1978', 'journal-title': 'Zool. Jb. (Anal.)'} / Zool. Jb. (Anal.) / Über das Haften von Insekten an glatten Flächen‐Herkunft der Adhäsions‐fiussigkeit by Hasenfuss I. (1978)
Hooke R.(1665).Micrographia. London.
10.1016/0020-1790(74)90074-2
10.1038/203780a0
10.1007/BF00351147
10.1098/rstb.1969.0038
10.1002/jmor.1051170302
{'key': 'e_1_2_1_15_1', 'first-page': '481', 'article-title': 'Untersuchungen über Haftapparate an Tarsalgliedern von Insekten', 'volume': '40', 'author': 'Simmermacher G.', 'year': '1884', 'journal-title': 'Z. wiss. Zool.'} / Z. wiss. Zool. / Untersuchungen über Haftapparate an Tarsalgliedern von Insekten by Simmermacher G. (1884)
10.1242/jeb.88.1.91 / J. exp. Biol. / Experimental analysis of adhesion of Chrysolina polita (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) on a variety of surfaces by Stork N. E. (1980)
{'key': 'e_1_2_1_17_1', 'first-page': '20', 'article-title': 'How does the housefly hold on to your window', 'volume': '7', 'author': 'Stork N. E.', 'year': '1983', 'journal-title': 'Antenna'} / Antenna / How does the housefly hold on to your window by Stork N. E. (1983)
10.1016/0020-7322(76)90006-4
10.1111/j.1469-7998.1976.tb06005.x
10.1017/S0025315400030344
10.1017/S002531540007065X
10.1017/S0025315400059695

Dates

Type	When
Created	15 years ago (Aug. 13, 2010, 10:56 p.m.)
Deposited	1 year, 10 months ago (Oct. 20, 2023, 12:08 a.m.)
Indexed	6 days, 7 hours ago (Aug. 21, 2025, 1:23 p.m.)
Issued	40 years, 6 months ago (Feb. 1, 1985)
Published	40 years, 6 months ago (Feb. 1, 1985)
Published Online	16 years ago (Aug. 20, 2009)
Published Print	40 years, 6 months ago (Feb. 1, 1985)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Walker_1985, title={The adhesive organ of the blowfly, Calliphora vomitoria: a functional approach (Diptera: Calliphoridae)}, volume={205}, ISSN={1469-7998}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1985.tb03536.x}, DOI={10.1111/j.1469-7998.1985.tb03536.x}, number={2}, journal={Journal of Zoology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Walker, G. and Yulf, A. B. and Ratcliffe, J.}, year={1985}, month=feb, pages={297–307} }

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