Mouthpart adaptations of antlion larvae facilitate prey handling and fluid feeding in sandy habitats.

Autor:	Lehnert MS; Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA., Lanba A; Department of Engineering, University of Southern Maine, 37 College Avenue, Gorham, ME 04038, USA.; Lasers for Innovative Solutions (L4iS), Suite 261, 200 Innovation Boulevard, State College, PA 16803, USA., Reiter KE; Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA., Fonseca RJ; Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA., Minninger J; Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA., Hall B; Lasers for Innovative Solutions (L4iS), Suite 261, 200 Innovation Boulevard, State College, PA 16803, USA., Huff W; Lasers for Innovative Solutions (L4iS), Suite 261, 200 Innovation Boulevard, State College, PA 16803, USA.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	The Journal of experimental biology [J Exp Biol] 2022 Oct 01; Vol. 225 (19). Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Oct 12.
DOI:	10.1242/jeb.244220
Abstrakt:	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 simultaneously supports 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 facilitates piercing prey. Our findings provide insight into how antlion larvae have overcome the challenges of fluid feeding in sandy habitats, which probably contributed to their success and widespread distribution. Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests. (© 2022. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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