Mandible elemental composition and mechanical properties from distinct castes of the leafcutter ant Atta laevigata (Attini; Formicidae)

V Birkenfeld, SN Gorb, W Krings - Interface Focus, 2024 - royalsocietypublishing.org
Leafcutter ant colonies are divided into castes with the individuals performing different tasks,
based mostly on size. With the mandibles, the small minims care for the brood or the fungus …

Mechanical and elemental characterization of ant mandibles: consequences for bite mechanics

CL Klunk, M Heethoff, JU Hammel… - Interface …, 2024 - royalsocietypublishing.org
Mandible morphology has an essential role in biting performance, but the mandible cuticle
can have regional differences in its mechanical properties. The effects of such a …

Evolution and functional implications of stinger shape in ants

A Casadei-Ferreira, G Procópio Camacho… - …, 2025 - academic.oup.com
Trait diversification is often driven by underlying performance tradeoffs in the context of
different selective pressures. Evolutionary changes in task specialization may influence how …

Mechanical properties and cuticle organisation in mandibles are related to the task specialisation in leafcutter ants (Atta laevigata, Attini, Formicidae)

W Krings, V Birkenfeld, SN Gorb - Physiological Entomology, 2024 - Wiley Online Library
Leafcutter ants show a high degree of task division among the workers of different castes.
For example, the smallest workers, the minims, care for the brood and the symbiotic fungus …

Bee morphology: A skeletomuscular anatomy of Thyreus (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

OM Meira, RG Beutel, H Pohl… - Journal of …, 2024 - Wiley Online Library
Although the knowledge of the skeletal morphology of bees has progressed enormously, a
corresponding advance has not happened for the muscular system. Most of the knowledge …

Transitional chelal digit patterns in saprophagous astigmatan mites

CE Bowman - Experimental and Applied Acarology, 2024 - Springer
Abstract Changes in the functional shape of astigmatan mite moveable digit profiles are
examined to test if Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acaridae) is a trophic intermediate between a …