Chiaki Suzuki: Preeminent Medical Photonics Education & Research Center, Institute for NanoSuit Research, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Yasuharu Takaku: Preeminent Medical Photonics Education & Research Center, Institute for NanoSuit Research, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, Japan. ytakaku@hama-med.ac.jp. ORCID
Hiroshi Suzuki: Department of Chemistry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Daisuke Ishii: Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan.
Tateo Shimozawa: Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, N21W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.
Shuhei Nomura: National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba, Japan.
Masatsugu Shimomura: Chitose Institute of Science and Technology, Departments of Bio- and Material Photonics, Chitose, Japan.
Takahiko Hariyama: Preeminent Medical Photonics Education & Research Center, Institute for NanoSuit Research, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, Japan. hariyama@hama-med.ac.jp. ORCID
Various insects utilise hydrophobic biological surfaces to live on the surface of water, while other organisms possess hydrophilic properties that enable them to live within a water column. Dixidae larvae reside, without being submerged, just below the water surface. However, little is known about how these larvae live in such an ecological niche. Herein, we use larvae of Dixa longistyla (Diptera: Dixidae) as experimental specimens and reveal their characteristics. A complex crown-like structure on the abdomen consists of hydrophobic and hydrophilic elements. The combination of these contrasting features enables the larvae to maintain their position as well as to move unidirectionally. Their hydrophobic region leverages water surface tension to function as an adhesive disc. By using the resistance of water, the hydrophilic region serves as a rudder during locomotion.
