Post by Myrm on Nov 6, 2011 10:31:07 GMT 1
Much of the inside of the ant head is occupied with the muscles that close the jaws; the muscles that open the jaws are a lot smaller. The brain, though tiny, is a very complex organ and allows the ant to learn and react to its surroundings. It can remembers things such as colony odour, navigation, and where it has placed a certain object.
The heart is a long tubular organ running the entire length of the body, from the brain to the tip of the abdomen. It has valves within it that prevents blood from flowing the wrong way, just as veins found in the human body. Fluids bathe the internal organs and is circulated by the heart; these fluids organs then filter through the organs and tissues. The pharynx, which is part of the gut, is controlled by six muscles and pumps food into the oesophagus. Ant debris in the food, such as dirt, is filtered before it enters the oesophagus and is collected in a tiny trap known as the infra-buccal pocket. When this pocket becomes full the ant empties it into an area within or without the nest that is designated as a waste products area.
There are also several glands in the head that secrete various substances such as those responsible for the digestion of food. Another gland within the head produces digestive and, in some species, an alarm chemical; this chemical is used to alert nearby ants of impending danger and any ant that detects this alarm will automatically go into "battle mode." Incidentally, if you crush an ant you will release a huge blast of this chemical and you are in effect declaring war on the colony.
The thorax contains muscles that operate the legs and wings and also the nerve cells that co-ordinate their movements; also contained in this part of the body is the heart and oesophagus.
The abdomen contains the stomachs, poison glands, ovaries in the queen, and the Dufour’s gland among other things. Ants have two "stomachs"; a dry, social stomach in which they can store food and later regurgitate to larvae, the queen and other ants. This is separated from the stomach proper by a small valve; once food enters the second stomach it becomes contaminated with gastric juices and cannot be regurgitated. It is not yet known the exact function of the Dufours gland but is thought to be involved in the release of chemicals that are used in the production of odour trails which the ants use to recruit nest mates to a food source. It may also produce sexual attracting chemicals.
The heart is a long tubular organ running the entire length of the body, from the brain to the tip of the abdomen. It has valves within it that prevents blood from flowing the wrong way, just as veins found in the human body. Fluids bathe the internal organs and is circulated by the heart; these fluids organs then filter through the organs and tissues. The pharynx, which is part of the gut, is controlled by six muscles and pumps food into the oesophagus. Ant debris in the food, such as dirt, is filtered before it enters the oesophagus and is collected in a tiny trap known as the infra-buccal pocket. When this pocket becomes full the ant empties it into an area within or without the nest that is designated as a waste products area.
There are also several glands in the head that secrete various substances such as those responsible for the digestion of food. Another gland within the head produces digestive and, in some species, an alarm chemical; this chemical is used to alert nearby ants of impending danger and any ant that detects this alarm will automatically go into "battle mode." Incidentally, if you crush an ant you will release a huge blast of this chemical and you are in effect declaring war on the colony.
The thorax contains muscles that operate the legs and wings and also the nerve cells that co-ordinate their movements; also contained in this part of the body is the heart and oesophagus.
The abdomen contains the stomachs, poison glands, ovaries in the queen, and the Dufour’s gland among other things. Ants have two "stomachs"; a dry, social stomach in which they can store food and later regurgitate to larvae, the queen and other ants. This is separated from the stomach proper by a small valve; once food enters the second stomach it becomes contaminated with gastric juices and cannot be regurgitated. It is not yet known the exact function of the Dufours gland but is thought to be involved in the release of chemicals that are used in the production of odour trails which the ants use to recruit nest mates to a food source. It may also produce sexual attracting chemicals.