Lepidopteran mouthpart architecture suggests a new mechanism of fluid uptake by insects with long proboscises.
J Theor Biol
; 510: 110525, 2021 02 07.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33065142
ABSTRACT
Proboscises of many fluid-feeding insects share a common architecture they have a partially open food canal along their length. This feature has never been discussed in relation to the feeding mechanism. We formulated and solved a fluid mechanics model of fluid uptake and estimated the time required to completely fill the food canal of the entire proboscis through the openings along its length. Butterflies and moths are taken as illustrative and representative of fluid-feeding insects. We demonstrated that the proposed mechanism of filling the proboscis with fluid through permeable lengthwise bands, in association with a thin film of saliva in the food canal, offers a competitive pathway for fluid uptake. Compared with the conventional mechanism of fluid uptake through apically restricted openings, the new mechanism provides a faster rate of fluid uptake, especially for long-tongued insects. Accordingly, long-tongued insects with permeable lengthwise bands would be able to more rapidly exploit a broader range of liquids in the form of films, pools, and discontinuous columns, thereby conserving energy and minimizing exposure to predators, particularly for hovering insects.
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Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Borboletas
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Theor Biol
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article