Tuesday, November 12th
MCZ 101, 26 Oxford Street,
Harvard University
07:30 PM
Ant Mandibles 3D: Evolution of wood drillers, vibratomes, and biomechanical mousetraps
Evan P. Economo
Assistant Professor
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
Ants are among most successful animal groups on the planet, and this success is partly due to the diverse ways they have evolved to interact with the world and make a living. This ecological and behavioral diversity is facilitated by an astonishing variety of mandible types, tools capable of everything from boring through living wood to striking prey with ultrafast movements to catapulting the ant away from danger. This presents an interesting opportunity to learn about how evolution engineers new forms and builds complex tools from simpler parts. In a talk highlighting the use X-ray imaging and 3-D modeling for entomological research, Professor Economo will give an overview of mandible diversity in ants and some key aspects of form and function. He will then discuss the biomechanics and evolution of the mousetrap-like mandibles of “trap-jaw” ants, a mechanism capable of the fastest acceleration of any measured animal. Analyzing these structures in 3D can help us understand evolutionary change, while providing opportunities for both researchers and the public to interact with biodiversity in new ways.
The talk is free and open to the public. The meeting is readily accessible via public transportation. Parking is available in the Oxford Street Garage with advance arrangement, as described here, or (usually but not always) at spaces on nearby streets. Everyone is also welcome to join us for dinner before the talk (beginning at 5:45 PM) at the Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave., Cambridge.
CEC meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month from October through May. The evening schedule typically includes an informal dinner (5:45 to 7:15 PM) followed by our formal meeting (7:30 – 9:00 PM). The latter begins with club business and is followed by a 60-minute entomology related presentation. Membership is open to amateur and professional entomologists.
