Movie 1

Female of Ixodes ricinus walking on the glass ceiling. Pads while getting in contact and detachment are visible.
3.3 times decelerated.
1st sequence: A female walking on a glass surface at ceiling position.
2nd sequence: Attachment and detachment of translucent adhesive pads during locomotion are visible. The totally expanded adhesive pad of a second leg and in contact with a glass surface while tick remained at ceiling position. The process of detachment of the pad is visualized.
3rd sequence: The folded adhesive pad of a foreleg and in contact with a glass surface while tick remained at ceiling position. The process of detachment of the pad is visualized. After detachment, a residue of adhesion-mediating fluid is detectable.
4th sequence: The slightly unfolded adhesive pad of a hindleg and in contact with a glass surface while tick remained at ceiling position. Tuning of attachment by alteration of pad area is visible. By pulling the leg, the pad is more folded (claw fold together). By pushing the leg, the pad unfolds while its area increases (claws spread appart).

Functional morphology of tarsal adhesive pads and attachment ability in ticks Ixodes ricinus (Arachnida, Acari, Ixodidae)

Dagmar Voigt, and Stanislav Gorb

Journal of Experimental Biology 2017. 220:1984-1996; doi: 10.1242/jeb.152942