Fig. 2. Experimental design for adhesion force measurements of single droplets of the adhesive secretion in tentacle-shaped trichomes. The living or dead test insect (TI), with its dorsal side attached to a glass slide (GS) with a droplet of beeswax (WD), is mounted on a horizontal holder (HO). A tentacle-shaped glandular trichome (GT) with a distinct terminal droplet of adhesive secretion is attached to a piece of double-sided carbon tape (DC) adhering firmly to a force sensor (FS). The sensor with the trichome was moved down using a motorized micromanipulator until contact between the droplet and the test surface (insect, glass) occurred at a load of approximately 50 µN, and then the sensor with the trichome was pulled up. The time–force sensor signal was recorded and processed further in a computer (PC).