Ant Ecology Exam 1 - Ant Adaptations

Evidence Suggests Ants Rose Around…

The Cretaceous Period >100 Million Years Ago

What is the Petiole?

The Narrow Waist of an Ant; They Either Have One or Two

What is the Second Petiole Called?

A Postpetiole

What are the Parts of the Ant Antenna?

Elbowed Antenna, Antennomeres, Scape, and Funiculus

What is the Elbowed Antenna?

All Ants Posses a Joint in the Middle of Each Antenna That Allows it to Bend Like an Elbow

What is the Antennomere?

One Segment Consisting of 4-12 Shorter Individual Segments Depending on the Species

What is the Scape?

The Base of the Antenna; One Long Segment

What is the Funiculus?

The Multiple Segments of the Antenna

What is the Metapleural Gland>

Secretory Glands That Produces Antibiotic Fluids

What is the Purpose of the Metapleural Gland?

Ants Use the Secretion to Groom Themselves to Prevent Bacterial Growth

What is the Acidopore?

A Round Orifice Located on the Abdomen Encircled by Hairs; Used to Identify Subfamilies of Formicinae

What are the Parts of the Leg?

Coxa, Trochanter, Femur, Tibia, and Tarsus

What is the Coxa?

Segments That Anchors Legs to the Body

What is the Trochanter?

Small Segment Between Coxa and Femur; Kinda Like a Knee

What is the Femur?

Connects to the Trochanter and Tibia

What is the Tibia?

Connects to the Femur; Sometimes Contains Spurs

What is the Tarsus?

Connects to the Tibia and Contains the Claws

What is an Ants Nervous System?

Ganglia Form a CNS; Thoracic, Petiolar, Gaster Ganglia

Ants Circulation and Respiration?

Open Circulatory System That Uses Spiracles

What are Spiracles?

Tiny Openings in Exoskeleton for Gas Exchange

Ants Digestion?

Contains Foregut, Midgut, Hindgut, Proventriculus, and Crop

What is the Foregut?

Contains the Mouth and Esophagus

What is the Midgut?

For Digestion

What is the Hindgut?

Contains the Rectum for Excretion

What is the Proventriculus?

Divides the Social and Self Stomachs

What is the Crop?

The Social Stomach