0
Want this question answered?
Be notified when an answer is posted
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
How do ladybugs stick to walls and ceilings?
Like many beetles and other insects, ladybugs have tiny hairs on the ends of their legs that grip surfaces. The pads on the ends of the legs (arolia or pulvilli) also have a slight adhesive grip. Less commonly, ladybugs can release a toxic ooze from their legs to discourage predators.
Why do ants come inside houses?
Well, lots of insects have little pads, called arolia, between the hooked claws on the tips of their legs. They can stick to smooth surfaces with these pads using the same principle as those pieces of plastic, which use the same basic principle as a suction cup--a vacuum. When climbing on rough surfaces, such as a wall or ceiling, a vacuum can't be formed, so they use those tiny little claws. If you could see the surface of your walls and ceilings through a microscope, you'd see there are plenty of places for tiny things to put their hooks and climb away. Ants can generate more than enough force to keep their tiny, air-filled bodies from falling, generally speaking. Sometimes they do fall, though; you just need to watch them often enough, and on the right kind of surface. Most insects have two sets of climbing tools on their feet, one for smooth surfaces and one for rough surfaces. Some insects have the additional capacity of being able to secrete a thin film of oil on the pads, which gives them even greater sticking power, mostly because it gives an even better vacuum, and also has surface tension effects. Just try taking a square millimeter of thin plastic with a micro-drop of corn oil on it, and see if it won't stick to your ceiling or any other surface. --------------------------- Walls, or even windows and mirrors look smooth to us. But under a microscope you would see lots of little ridges, holes and other marks that an ant can fit the tiny little hooks at the ends of their legs into and climb right up.
What are some 5 letter words starting with A?
Ants!Arms!Army!Abba!AvidAridAxelAwesArtsAhoyAnonAtomAblyAfarAloeAllyArchAunt
