at Google ScholarTitle data
Paul, Jürgen ; Roces, Flavio:
Comparative Functional Morphology of Ant Mouthparts and Significance for Liquid Food Intake.
In: Krenn, Harald W.
(ed.):
Insect Mouthparts : Form, Function, Development and Performance. -
Cham
: Springer
,
2019
. - pp. 335-359
ISBN 978-3-030-29654-4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29654-4_10
Abstract in another language
Mouthparts are to ants very versatile tools for almost any task. This is particularly true for their mandibles. Ants use them for prey-catching, fighting, leaf-cutting, brood care, and communication. The key to the versatility of mandible functions is the mandible closer, the largest muscle in ants. This muscle is generally composed of distinct muscle fiber types that differ in morphology and contractile properties. Volume proportions of the fiber types are species-specific and correlate with feeding habits. Two biomechanical models explain muscle design to fulfill force and speed requirements. Adult ants mainly feed on fluids and exchange them via trophallaxis. The glossa of ants, the distal end of the labium, is the first body part involved in liquid food intake. It works either as a passive open duct during sucking or as an up- and downward moving shovel during licking. The glossa surface is covered with small spadelike microtrichia that are regularly arranged in parallel rows. A comparison of glossa surface characteristics and volumes of muscles that control licking and sucking among four ant species differing in their feeding habits shows that morphology depends on the used feeding technique and the extent of specialization on liquid food, suggesting a general design driven by evolution.
Further data
| Item Type: | Article in a book |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Institutions of the University: | Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry > Chair Didactics of Biology and Chemistry > Chair Didactics of Biology and Chemistry - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jürgen Paul |
| Result of work at the UBT: | No |
| DDC Subjects: | 500 Science > 500 Natural sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Nov 2025 13:22 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Nov 2025 13:22 |
| URI: | https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/95149 |