Dimensions of Surface Structures of Slippery Zone in Nepenthes Pitchers and Bionic Design of Locust Trapping Plate

Abstract:

The slippery zone of inner pitchers in Nepenthes bears specialized structures to serve the functions of trapping insects. The surface microstructures of slippery zone and its geometrical dimensions were acquired with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and scanning white-light interferometer (SWLI). The slippery zone consists of plenty of downward-directed lunate cells, as well as relatively dense and irregular wax crystals. Based on the microstructures and the geometrical dimensions, surface structures of slippery trapping plates used in controlling plague locust was designed with 3DSMAX software, and this design provided theoretical foundations for manufacturing slippery trapping plates.