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A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants
Published on: October 12, 2018
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Biomineral armor in leaf-cutter ants
Hongjie Li1,2,3, Chang-Yu Sun4, Yihang Fang5
1Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
Nature Communications
|November 25, 2020
Summary
Leaf-cutter ants possess a novel high-magnesium calcite exoskeleton armor. This biomineral layer enhances exoskeleton hardness, providing significant protection against aggressive encounters and fungal infections.
Area of Science:
- Biomineralization
- Insect Anatomy
- Materials Science
Background:
- Calcareous anatomical structures are known in diverse animals but were previously unobserved in insects.
- The leaf-cutter ant Acromyrmex echinatior is a well-studied insect model.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and nature of calcareous structures in insects.
- To characterize the biomineral layer in Acromyrmex echinatior.
- To determine the functional significance of this biomineralization.
Main Methods:
- Live-rearing of ants and in vitro synthesis experiments.
- In situ nanoindentation of ant exoskeletons.
- Analysis of biomineral composition and distribution.
Main Results:
- Discovery of a high-magnesium calcite [CaMg(CO3)2] biomineral layer on the exoskeleton of Acromyrmex echinatior major workers.
- The biomineral layer rapidly accumulates with ant maturation, covers nearly the entire integument, and is catalyzed by the ant epicuticle.
- Nanoindentation revealed significant exoskeleton hardening.
- Biomineralized ants showed increased survival during aggressive encounters and reduced fungal infections.
Conclusions:
- The exoskeleton of leaf-cutter ants is armored with biogenic high-magnesium calcite.
- This biomineralization provides significant protective advantages.
- Calcareous biominerals enriched in magnesium may be more widespread in metazoans than previously thought.
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