Friction and adhesion in the tarsal and metatarsal scopulae of spiders

Friction and adhesion forces of the ventral surface of tarsi and metatarsi were measured in the bird spider Aphonopelma seemanni (Theraphosidae) and the hunting spider Cupiennius salei (Ctenidae). Adhesion measurements revealed no detectable attractive forces when the ventral surfaces of the leg segments were loaded and unloaded against the flat smooth glass surface. Strong friction anisotropy was observed: friction was considerably higher during sliding in the distal direction. Such anisotropy is explained by an anisotropic arrangement of microtrichia on setae: only the setal surface facing in the distal direction of the leg is covered by the microtrichia with spatula-like tips. When the leg is pushed, the spatula-shaped tips of microtrichia contact the substrate, whereas, when the leg is pulled over a surface, setae bend in the opposite direction and contact the substrate with their spatulae-lacking sides. In an additional series of experiments, it was shown that desiccation has an effect on the friction force. Presumably, drying of the legs results in reduction of the flexibility of the setae, microtrichia, spatulae, and underlying cuticle; this diminishes the ability to establish proper contact with the substrate and thus reduces the contact forces.     

昆嵛林蛙胚后发育的初步观察

昆嵛林蛙（Rana kunyuensis,Lu et Li2002）是新近在山东文登昆嵛山发现的蛙科（Ranidae）蛙属（Rana）林蛙群（Wlld-frogs）的一新种。我们在23.7-26.0℃的条件下,观察了其胚后发育全过程中的形态变化。该蛙胚后发育可划分为19期,历时约49d。唇齿式多为Ⅰ：1-1/Ⅲ、少数Ⅰ：1-1/Ⅱ：1-1,为昆嵛林蛙这一新种的确立提供了形态学依据。     

Material structure, stiffness, and adhesion: why attachment pads of the grasshopper (Tettigonia viridissima) adhere more strongly than those of the locust (Locusta migratoria) (Insecta: Orthoptera)

The morphology, ultrastrucure, effective elastic modulus, and adhesive properties of two different smooth-type attachment pads were studied in two orthopteran species. Tettigonia viridissima (Ensifera) and Locusta migratoria (Caelifera) have a similar structural organization of their attachment pads. They both possess a flexible exocuticle, where the cuticular fibrils are fused into relatively large rods oriented at an angle to the surface. The compliant material of the pad contributes to the contact formation with the substrate. However, the pad material structure was found to be different in these two species. L. migratoria pads bear a thick sub-superficial layer, as well as a higher density of rods. The indentation experiments showed a higher effective elastic modulus and a lower work of adhesion for L. migratoria pads. When the indentations were made at different depths, a higher effective elastic modulus was revealed at lower indentation depths in both species. This effect is explained by the higher stiffness of the superficial pad layer. The obtained results demonstrate a clear correlation between density of the fibres, thickness of the superficial layer, compliance of the pad, and its adhesive properties. Such material structures and properties may be dependent on the preferred environment of each species.     

The first nauplius and the copepodite stages ofThalestris longimana Claus, 1863 (Copepoda,Harpacticoida, Thalestridae) and their bearing on the reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships

The first nauplius and 5 copepodite stages ofThalestris longimana Claus, 1863 are described. Sexual dimorphism makes its first appearance in the copepodid IV. Brief remarks are given on cultivation and on ecology of the species. The significance of both the naupliar and the copepodite development for the reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships of Thalestridae is discussed.     

爪鲵呼吸器官的胚后发育

应用石蜡切片和扫描电镜技术,对爪鲵(Onychodactylus fischeri)幼体、亚成体和成体3个不同发育阶段的皮肤、外鳃、咽等呼吸器官进行了显微观察与比较分析,旨在揭示爪鲵不同发育阶段各呼吸器官的演化规律.结果表明,爪鲵的皮肤随年龄的增长而逐渐增厚,幼体阶段其背腹皮肤厚度相差不大,亚成体及成体背部皮肤明显厚于腹部;外鳃是幼体和亚成体爪鲵呼吸器官的重要组成部分,随着发育外鳃逐渐完善,到亚成体阶段达到顶峰,随后逐步退化;咽部是爪鲵的重要呼吸器官,幼体期口腔和咽发育不完善,亚成体咽部逐渐发育,至成体时发育完善.     

Ultrastructural study of the postembryonic development of the neural lamella of Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera)

Summary The neural lamella encapsulating the brain of the wax moth Galleria mellonella develops from a very thin (80–120 nm) layer in the first larval instar, resembling the basal lamina, to a thick (1–4 m) sheath composed of two zones in the seventh (last) instar. After its breakdown at the time of larval-pupal ecdysis the neural lamella is reconstructed in the pupa, 2–3 days before pupaladult ecdysis.The cells of the perineurium seem to be responsible for the formation of the neural lamella, both in the larva and pupa, even though its ultrastructure differs at these stages.This paper is dedicated to the memory of doc. dr hab. Andrzej B. Dutkowski who proposed this studyPreliminary results of these studies were presented at the XII-th Congress of the Polish Zoological Society, Pozna (Osiska, 1979)The authors previous surname was Dybowska. She wishes to express her gratitude to Prof. Aleksandra Przeecka for valuable assistance in the preparation of this paper. She is also greatly indebted to Joanna Koodziejczyk, M.Sc. for technical aid     

Adhesive properties of the arolium of a lantern-fly, Lycorma delicatula (Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoridae)

The arolium in Lycorma delicatula is shaped as a truncated pyramid, tapering proximally. The base or the terminal area is corrugated, forming parasagittal wrinkles (period 1.5-5.0 microm), which are supported from inside by cuticular dendrites. Side faces of the arolium are made up of sclerotized dorsolateral plates. When claws slip on a smooth substrate and pronate, the dorsolateral plates diverge and expand the sticky terminal area. The real contact area with the glass plate was recognized by light reflection on its periphery. This area was measured and shown to be smaller when the leg was pressed perpendicularly to the substrate (0.02 mm(2)) than when it was sheared in a direction parallel to the substrate (0.05 mm(2)). Attachment forces were measured with the aid of dynamometric platforms during pulling of active insects from horizontal or vertical glass surfaces. Normal adhesive force (about 9-12 mN) was much less than friction force during sliding with velocity of 6-17 mm/s (50-100 mN); however, when expressed in tenacity per unit contact area the difference was less pronounced: 170 and 375-625 mN/mm(2), respectively. Sliding of the arolium during shear displacement was shown to be oscillatory in frame-by-frame video analysis. Relaxative oscillations consisted of periodical sticks-slips of the arolium along the glass surface.     

Migration of neurons between ganglia in the metamorphosing insect nervous system

Migration of neurons over long distances occurs during the development of the adult central nervous system of the sphinx moth Manduca sexta, and the turnip moth Agrotis segetum. From each of the suboesophageal and three thoracic ganglia, bilaterally-paired clusters of immature neurons and associated glial cells migrate posteriorly along the interganglionic connectives, to enter the next posterior ganglion. The first sign of migration is observed at the onset of metamorphosis, when posterio-lateral cell clusters gradually separate from the cortex of neuronal cell bodies and enter the connectives. Cell clusters migrate posteriorly along the connective to reach the next ganglion over the first three days (approximately 15%) of pupal development. During migration, each cell cluster is completely enveloped by a single giant glial cell spanning the entire length of the connective between two adjacent ganglia. Intracellular cobalt staining reveals that each migrating neuron has an ovoid cell body and an extremely long leading process which extends as far as the next posterior ganglion; this is not a common morphology for migrating neurons that have been described in vertebrates. Once the cells arrive at the anterior cortex of the next ganglion, they rapidly intermingle with the surrounding neurons and so we were unable to determine the fate of the migrating neurons at their final location.     

Environmental and internal control of seasonal growth in seaweeds

All 6 naupliar stages of Scutellidium hippolytes (Kröyer, 1863), belonging to Tisbidae are described. A key for the identification of the naupliar stages is given. Naupliar peculiarities are discussed in the light of phylogenetic affinities. The nauplii are compared with those of the tisbids Tisbe gracilis and Drescheriella glacialis.     

Oxytocin mediates the acquisition of filial, odor-guided huddling for maternally-associated odor in preweanling rats

The present study was designed to examine possible roles of oxytocin (OT) in the acquisition of a filial huddling preference in preweanling rats. We used a procedure in which a scented, foster mother can induce an odor-guided huddling preference in preweanling pups, following a single, 2-h-long co-habitation ( [Kojima and Alberts, 2009] and Kojima and Alberts, 2011). This single, discrete period for preference learning enables us to observe the mother–pup interactions that establish the pups' preferences and to intervene with experimental manipulations. Four, 14-day-old littermates interacted with a scented foster mother that provided maternal care during a 2-h session. Two of the pups were pretreated with an intracerebroventricular injection of OT or an oxytocin antagonist (OTA), and the others received a vehicle injection. Filial preference for a maternally-paired odor was measured in a huddling test the next day. OT is necessary for acquisition of the filial preference: The preference learning was blocked in the pups treated with OTA, but not in their vehicle-treated littermates who experienced the same mother at the same time. Injection with exogenous OT did not augment the pups' preference. Manipulating pups' central OT also altered the contact interactions of the mother and pups. When some pups received OT, mother–litter aggregations formed as frequently and with similar combinations of bodies, but contact aggregations were significantly more cohesive than when some pups in the litter received OTA. We discuss dual, behavioral and neuroendocrine roles of OT in social learning by preweanling rats.     

Adhesive foot pads: an adaptation to climbing? An ecological survey in hunting spiders

Hairy pads relying on dry adhesion are fascinating structures that convergently evolved among spiders and lizards. Numerous studies underline the functional aspects leading to their strong adhesion to smooth surfaces, but rarely has their role been studied in the context of natural habitats and surfaces that animals are faced with. In hunting spiders, the hairy foot pads (claw tufts) underneath the paired claws are assumed to be an adaptation to a climbing lifestyle, particularly on smooth plant surfaces. However, surfaces that are too smooth for claws to generate a sufficient grip are rather rare in natural habitats and above-ground habitats are occupied by hunting spiders both with and without claw tufts. In this study we estimated the proportion of claw tuft-bearing hunting spiders (ct+ ratio) among microhabitat-specific assemblages by conducting both a field study and a meta-analysis approach. The effect of surface characteristics, structure fragmentation and altitude of the microhabitat niche on the ct+ ratio was analyzed. We hypothesized that the ct+ ratio will be higher in (i) hunting spider assemblages obtained from microhabitats above the ground than from those at the ground and (ii) in hunting spider assemblages obtained from microhabitats with smoother surfaces (tree foliage) than those with rougher surfaces (barks, stones), and lower in (iii) hunting spider assemblages obtained from microhabitats with more fragmented structures (small leaves) than in those with comparable but less fragmented structures (large leaves). We found the ct+ ratio to be significantly affected by the microhabitat's distance from the ground, whereas surface characteristics and fragmentation of the substrates were of minor importance. This suggests that claw tufts are highly beneficial when the microhabitat's height exceeds a value where the additional pad-related costs are exceeded by the costs of dropping. We assume the benefit to be mainly due to gaining a high safety factor at a lower energy demand if compared to alternative attachment devices (claws, silk). The previously presumed enhanced access to new microhabitat sites may play only a minor role as hunting spiders without claw tufts are present in most microhabitats.     

瓦氏黄颡鱼的胚后发育观察

2002年5~6月,在四川省泸州市、合江县分数批收集到长江野生瓦氏黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrusvachelli)亲本,通过人工催产、人工授精获得受精卵,对其胚后发育过程进行了观察。瓦氏黄颡鱼的胚后发育过程可以分为卵黄囊仔鱼、晚期仔鱼和幼鱼3个阶段。初孵仔鱼淡黄色,肌节40对,平均全长5.2mm。水温20~22℃时,孵出后第3d口张开;第7d开始摄食;第9d卵黄吸尽,此时鱼苗平均全长12mm,卵黄囊仔鱼阶段结束。晚期仔鱼阶段的仔鱼,胸鳍、尾鳍、臀鳍、背鳍、腹鳍先后发育,至鳍褶消失时晚期仔鱼阶段结束。经过30d的生长和发育,进入幼鱼阶段;此时平均全长达37mm,其形态特征和生态习性均与成鱼相似。     

“Open access” growth histories in millipedes (Diplopoda)

A unique pattern of missing defence glands on certain body rings is described for two species of the millipede family Mongoliulidae, order Julida: Ussuriiulus pilifer Golovatch, 1980, and Koiulus interruptus Enghoff et al., 2017. Based on the patterns of missing glands observed in recently collected samples of the two species, numbers of podous and apodous body rings in successive stadia of the postembryonic development can be inferred for each individual millipede, which in turn allows the reconstruction of pathways of anamorphosis in these species. The inferred numbers of body rings in developmental stadia are compared with actual numbers observed on additional samples, including the type series, of U. pilifer. The pattern of missing glands in the two mongoliulid species is compared with the pattern of missing glands typical of the entire millipede order Polydesmida.