Suction Cups That Don’t Fall Off – Insects in Torrential Rivers Inspire Engineering Solutions

 


Using extremely powerful suction organs, the aquatic larvae of the net-winged midge are able to move easily on rocks in torrential rivers. These organs' intricate structure has been revealed in great detail thanks to cutting-edge imaging methods, which shed light on their dependable operation. The findings, which were published on December 18, 2019, in the journal BMC Zoology, may help improve man-made suction cups that are effective on a wide range of surfaces.


In torrential alpine rivers that can move as fast as three meters per second, the larvae can quickly detach and reattach to underwater rocks. Only forces greater than 600 times their body weight can detach their highly specialized suction organs, which are so powerful. They are out of harm's way because the water is moving so quickly, and it is unlikely that competitors or predators will survive in this difficult environment


The larvae use their suction organs to attach themselves with incredible strength to the river water where they live, which has a tremendous force. Victor Kan G, a PhD student in the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge and the paper's first author, stated, "If they let go, they’re immediately swept away". We see them feeding and moving around in all directions, so the extremely rapid water speeds don't bother them at all. 


The researchers discovered that each larva is able to form a very tight seal with the rock's surface thanks to a central piston that is controlled by specific muscles. The larva is held in place by a dense collection of tiny hairs that rub against the rock's surface. A small slit on the suction disc is controlled by other muscles when the suction organ needs to move. This slit pulls the disc open, allowing the suction organ to detach. This is the first instance of a biological system with such an active detachment mechanism. 


The research concentrated on two larval species, L I-P O N E-U R-A and cor data, which were discovered in the regions of alpine rivers near Innsbruck, Austria, with the highest rates of flow. The researchers struggled to stay upright, despite only wading up to their knees in the river.  The hatchlings they found there were brushing on the submerged rocks, obviously absent due to the deluges overwhelming them


Through millions of years of evolution, these natural structures have reached their full potential. The study's lead researcher, Dr Walter, a specialist in comparative biomechanics at the University of Cambridge, stated, "We want to learn from them to create better engineered products". 


The researchers are developing "bio-inspired" suction cups by working with colleagues at the Institute of New Materials in Saarbrücken, Germany, using their findings. Current counterfeit pull cups just function admirably on smooth, clean surfaces, similar to a vehicle windscreen or inside a spotless office. Larvae of the aquatic net-winged midge can easily move around despite living on filthy, rough surfaces. There are numerous potential industrial applications for this highly reliable, controlled attachment and detachment. 


"We now envision a plethora of exciting applications for engineered suction cups as a result of our comprehension of how the larvae's suction organs function", he stated. Suction cups could be used in berry picking machines, where they would pick the fruit without crushing it, or in other industrial applications, such as allowing surgeons around delicate tissues.


For more than a century, researchers have been fascinated by the aquatic larvae of net-winged midges. The highest attachment strength ever observed in insects is found in their suction organs. This study has revealed the internal structure of the suction organs in three dimensions and provided new insights into their function by utilizing X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT), scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy

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