1
|
Lehnert MS, Lanba A, Reiter KE, Fonseca RJ, Minninger J, Hall B, Huff W. Mouthpart adaptations of antlion larvae facilitate prey handling and fluid feeding in sandy habitats. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:277241. [PMID: 36172812 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Antlion larvae are fluid-feeding ambush predators that feed on arthropods trapped in their funnel-shaped pits built in sandy habitats; however, details are lacking about their feeding mechanism. Here we tested the hypothesis that the antlion, Myrmeleon crudelis, has adaptations that facilitate fluid feeding in sandy habitats. We measured contact angles of water droplets and used the capillary-rise technique to assess mouthpart wettability. A structural organization was discovered that provides a hydrophobic-hydrophilic wetting dichotomy that would simultaneously support self-cleaning and fluid uptake and is enabled by antiparallel movements of the maxillae. The mouthparts also are augmented by their mechanical properties, including maxillae and mandible tips that might be heavily sclerotized, as determined by confocal microscopy, which likely facilitate piercing prey. Our findings provide insight on how antlion larvae have overcome the challenges of fluid feeding in sandy habitats, which likely contributed to their success and widespread distribution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Lehnert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA
| | - Asheesh Lanba
- Department of Engineering, University of Southern Maine, 37 College Ave., Gorham, ME 04038, USA.,Lasers for Innovative Solutions (L4iS), Suite 261, 200 Innovation Boulevard, State College, PA 16803, USA
| | - Kristen E Reiter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA
| | - Rena J Fonseca
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA
| | - Jordan Minninger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA
| | - Benjamin Hall
- Lasers for Innovative Solutions (L4iS), Suite 261, 200 Innovation Boulevard, State College, PA 16803, USA
| | - Wesley Huff
- Lasers for Innovative Solutions (L4iS), Suite 261, 200 Innovation Boulevard, State College, PA 16803, USA
| |
Collapse
|