Running on waxy leaves: Arboreal ants

Arboreal ants can walk on waxy plant leaves, with attachment forces from 50 to 150 times their weight.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Move or stay put >
	Attach >
	Temporarily

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Insect repellants, non-slip soles or other products, inks that adhere to waxy papers.

[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Even less clear is the basis of 'wax-running,' by which some ants get around on the slippery epicuticular wax of plants. Federle, Rohrseitz, and Hölldobler (2000) measured attachment forces by making ants do their thing under varying amounts of extra gravity in a centrifuge. Scaling pointed to detachment force as dependent on contact area, but, paradoxically, ability to wax-walk turned out to vary inversely with attachment strength to a smooth acrylic (Plexiglas/Perspex) plastic. Whatever the mechanism, arboreal ants hang on spectacularly; attachment forces from 50 to 150 times their weights exceed those of all other insects yet investigated." (Vogel 2003:430)

About the inspiring organism

Crematogaster
Crematogaster

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Insect repellants, non-slip soles or other products, inks that adhere to waxy papers.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Agriculture, consumer products, printing

References

Steven Vogel. 2003. Comparative Biomechanics: Life's Physical World. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 580 p.

Federle, W; K Rohrseitz, K; Hölldobler, B. 2000. Attachment forces of ants measured with a centrifuge: better 'wax-runners' have a poorer attachment to a smooth surface. Journal of Experimental Biology. 203(3): 505-512.

Running on waxy leaves: Arboreal ants

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