Image of the Week - 06 April 2004

Structures on the Antenna of a Dacetine Ant

The structures at upper left and lower right in this ESEM image are found on the antennae of a tiny ant that is less than one millimeter in length. They are thought to be olfactory or secretory organs involved in obtaining food. Dacetine ants exude pheromones in order to attract springtails, their prey of choice.

Image Courtesy: Mark Bee and James B. Nardi

Contact: c-bee1@itg.uiuc.edu, j-nardi@uiuc.edu