RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Disentangling the role of surface topography and intrinsic wettability in the prey capture mechanism of Nepenthes pitcher plants JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2020.10.09.332916 DO 10.1101/2020.10.09.332916 A1 David Labonte A1 Adam Robinson A1 Ulrike Bauer A1 Walter Federle YR 2020 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/10/09/2020.10.09.332916.abstract AB Nepenthes pitcher plants capture prey with leaves specialised as pitfall traps. Insects are trapped when they ‘aquaplane’ on the pitcher rim (peristome), a surface structured with macroscopic and microscopic radial ridges. What is the functional significance of this hierarchical surface topography? Here, we use insect pad friction measurements, photolithography, wetting experiments and physical modelling to demonstrate that the ridges enhance the traps’ efficacy by satisfying two functional demands on prey capture: Macroscopic ridges restrict lateral but enhance radial spreading of water, thereby creating continuous slippery tracks which facilitate prey capture when little water is present. Microscopic ridges, in turn, ensure that the water film between insect pad and peristome remains stable, causing insects to aquaplane. In combination, the hierarchical ridge structure hence renders the peristome wettable, and water films continuous, so avoiding the need for a strongly hydrophilic surface chemistry, which would compromise resistance to desiccation and attract detrimental contamination.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.