10.5061/DRYAD.88Q18
Hackmann, Alexander
University of Cambridge
Delacave, Henry
University of Warwick
Robinson, Adam
University of Cambridge
Labonte, David
University of Cambridge
Federle, Walter
University of Cambridge
Data from: Functional morphology and efficiency of the antenna cleaner in
Camponotus rufifemur ants
Dryad
dataset
2015
Biomimetics
Camponotus rufifemur
Functional morphology
Surface Cleaning
2015-06-26T14:19:43Z
2015-06-26T14:19:43Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.150129
14733 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Contamination of body surfaces can negatively affect many physiological
functions. Insects have evolved different adaptations for removing
contamination, including surfaces that allow passive self-cleaning and
structures for active cleaning. Here, we study the function of the antenna
cleaner in Camponotus rufifemur ants, a clamp-like structure consisting of
a notch on the basitarsus facing a spur on the tibia, both bearing
cuticular ‘combs’ and ‘brushes’. The ants clamp one antenna tightly
between notch and spur, pull it through, and subsequently clean the
antenna cleaner itself with the mouthparts. We simulated cleaning strokes
by moving notch or spur over antennae contaminated with fluorescent
particles. The notch removed particles more efficiently than the spur, but
both components eliminated more than 60% of the particles with the first
stroke. Ablation of bristles, brush and comb strongly reduced the
efficiency, indicating that they are essential for cleaning. To study how
comb and brush remove particles of different sizes, we contaminated
antennae of living ants, and anaesthetized them immediately after they had
performed the first cleaning stroke. Different-sized beads were trapped in
distinct zones of the notch, consistent with the gap widths between
cuticular outgrowths. This suggests that the antenna cleaner operates like
a series of sieves that remove the largest objects first, followed by
smaller ones, down to the smallest particles that get caught by adhesion.
Data for manuscript “Functional morphology and efficiency of the antenna
cleaner in Camponotus rufifemur ants"Excel file includes 3 data
sheets. One sheet for each experiment. The corresponding figures from the
manuscript are mentioned above the actual data.Manuscript data.xlsx
UK
Cambridge