Why do ants touch their own antennae?
Like most social insects, ants need to communicate with each other. If you watch ants on a trail, you will notice that they often touch each other with their antennae (long feelers on the head) when they meet. All ants can produce pheromones, which are scent chemicals used for communication and to make trails.
How does an ant clean a radio antenna?
Once the antenna is clean, the ant has to clean the cleaning mechanism, which it does with its mouth. The process is so finely calibrated in terms of pressure and size of the combs and brushes that it cleans the delicate antennas thoroughly without damaging them.
How does an ant get rid of dirt?
When the ant bends its leg, it forms a kind of clamp that the ant pulls the antenna through, scraping off dirt and pollen. The clamp works a bit like a carwash in that the antenna first encounters coarse bristles that knock off the biggest particles, then a fine comb and finally a brush.
What kind of device do ants use to clean themselves?
A notch and spur covered in different types of hairs form a cleaning device, similar in shape to a tiny lobster claw. “During a cleaning movement, the antenna is pulled through the device which clears away dirt particles using ‘bristles’, a ‘comb’ and a ‘brush’.”
How are the antennae of an ant used?
Ants have elbow-shaped antennae attached to the front of their heads. The shape allows the ants to move the antennae both in front of and behind the head. Ants use their antennae to smell, feel, and touch what is ahead of or behind them as they crawl. They can also use the antennae to communicate with other ants.
Once the antenna is clean, the ant has to clean the cleaning mechanism, which it does with its mouth. The process is so finely calibrated in terms of pressure and size of the combs and brushes that it cleans the delicate antennas thoroughly without damaging them.
When the ant bends its leg, it forms a kind of clamp that the ant pulls the antenna through, scraping off dirt and pollen. The clamp works a bit like a carwash in that the antenna first encounters coarse bristles that knock off the biggest particles, then a fine comb and finally a brush.
A notch and spur covered in different types of hairs form a cleaning device, similar in shape to a tiny lobster claw. “During a cleaning movement, the antenna is pulled through the device which clears away dirt particles using ‘bristles’, a ‘comb’ and a ‘brush’.”
Ants have elbow-shaped antennae attached to the front of their heads. The shape allows the ants to move the antennae both in front of and behind the head. Ants use their antennae to smell, feel, and touch what is ahead of or behind them as they crawl. They can also use the antennae to communicate with other ants.
