The design of the fly adhesive pad: distal tenent setae are adapted to the delivery of an adhesive secretion

Abstract

Flies (Brachycera) have adhesive pads called pulvilli at the terminal tarsomere. The pulvilli are covered by tenent setae, sometimes termed tenent hairs, which serve to increase the actual area of attachment to the surface. By using transmission and scanning electron microscopy it is shown that proximal and distal tenent setae have different ultrastructures. The design of distal adhesive setae is adapted for the release of adhesive substances close to the area of contact. It is concluded that secretion injection is precisely targeted under the distal tip of a single seta.