The broad study of ants is called myrmecology (Greek Mýrmēx, or ant). Pest management professionals (PMPs) are well educated in applied myrmecologists. Ant species are eusocial (highly organized), living in a complex form of communal organization. But PMPs can outcompete ants through integrated pest management (IPM).
The black carpenter ant, Camponotus pennsylvanicus (roughly translating to well-known evader of Pennsylvania), inhabits the decaying anatomy of trees. Decaying wooden structural components can be infested. Constructing formicariums (nests) within cellulose environments, carpenter ants don’t consume wood. As omnivores, black carpenter ants gain nutrition through animals (necro-invertebrates) and plants (extracts and fruits).
One of the many extraordinary successes of the species is attributable to their mandibles, from the Latin mandibulum, meaning jaw. The most anterior oral appenage of the cephalon, or head, mandibles are lateral appendages. Perfected for processing food, they’re one of the most difficult parts of the integument (Mohs Scale 3.0+/-, where talc is 1 and diamond is 10). They’re used to processing matrices of varying structural complexity. Complex plant fibers of varying hardness require mandibles harder than the fibers under process. Ant mandibles are dicondylic — two points of articulation with the head — thus, moving transversely. They also possess complex surface features:
- outer, external margin;
- internal margin;
- basal margin;
- masticatory margin; and
- teeth and denticles (small teeth).
[ RELATED LINK: Dos & Don’ts: Myrmecology ]
Dr. Mitchell, D.O., Ph.D., M.P.H., B.C.E., a board-certified physician and entomologist, is principal technical specialist for PestWest Environmental, as well as PMP’s Technical Editor. He can be reached at docmitchell@northcoastmedia.net or 515-333-8923.
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