Fire ants actively control spacing and orientation within self-assemblages

Foster, Paul C; Mlot, Nathan; Lin, Angela; Hu, David L.

doi:10.1242/jeb.093021

Cited by 51 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The peculiar properties of solid aggregations have recently been exemplified by studies on fire ants that are capable of building dynamic structures such as rafts, bridges or towers [15,16], as illustrated in figure 1a,b. Such aggregations can be seen as dynamic networks wherein ants (the nodes) form transient connections by linking their tarsi together via mechanical claws or adhesion via sticky pads located at the end of each tarsus [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How do fire ants control the rheology of their aggregations? A statistical mechanics approach

Vernerey¹,

Shen²,

Sridhar³

et al. 2018

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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Active networks are omnipresent in nature, from the molecular to the macro-scale. In this study, we explore the mechanical behaviour of fire ant aggregations, closely knit swarms that display impressive dynamics culminating with the aggregations’ capacity to self-heal and adapt to the environment. Although the combined elasticity and rheology of the ant aggregation can be characterized by phenomenological mechanical models (e.g. linear Maxwell or Kelvin–Voigt model), it is not clear how the behaviour of individual ants affects the aggregations’ emerging responses. Here, we explore an alternative way to think about these materials, describing them as a collection of individuals connected via elastic chains that associate and dissociate over time. Using our knowledge of these connections—e.g. their elasticity and attachment/dissociation rates—we construct a statistical description of connection stretch and derive an evolution equation for the corresponding stretch distribution. This time-evolving stretch distribution is then used to determine important macroscopic measures, e.g. stress, energy storage and energy dissipation, in the network. In this context, we show how the physical characteristics and activities of individual ants can explain the elasticity, flow and shear thinning of the aggregation. In particular, we find that experimental results are matched if the detachment rate between two individuals increases with tension in the connection.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How do fire ants control the rheology of their aggregations? A statistical mechanics approach

Vernerey¹,

Shen²,

Sridhar³

et al. 2018

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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“…[581] Recent years have seen a number of studies that obtain quantitative measures of the remarkable properties of ant aggregations, which can be compared with other types of "entangled active matter" such as cells, which also have actively regulated physical bonds. [582,583] Using classic measurement strategies such as tensile testing, [584] parallel-plate rheometry, [585] spreading drop measurements, [581] and Hele-Shaw cells for flow measurement, [583,586] the material properties of insect populations can be quantified. Accordingly, ant aggregates are classified as viscoelastic pastes with shear-thinning and selfhealing properties.…”

Section: Insect Swarms As Functional Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

It's Not a Bug, It's a Feature: Functional Materials in Insects

2018

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Over the course of their wildly successful proliferation across the earth, the insects as a taxon have evolved enviable adaptations to their diverse habitats, which include adhesives, locomotor systems, hydrophobic surfaces, and sensors and actuators that transduce mechanical, acoustic, optical, thermal, and chemical signals. Insect‐inspired designs currently appear in a range of contexts, including antireflective coatings, optical displays, and computing algorithms. However, as over one million distinct and highly specialized species of insects have colonized nearly all habitable regions on the planet, they still provide a largely untapped pool of unique problem‐solving strategies. With the intent of providing materials scientists and engineers with a muse for the next generation of bioinspired materials, here, a selection of some of the most spectacular adaptations that insects have evolved is assembled and organized by function. The insects presented display dazzling optical properties as a result of natural photonic crystals, precise hierarchical patterns that span length scales from nanometers to millimeters, and formidable defense mechanisms that deploy an arsenal of chemical weaponry. Successful mimicry of these adaptations may facilitate technological solutions to as wide a range of problems as they solve in the insects that originated them.

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“…Some aggregations allow organisms to adopt remarkable material properties and manipulate their environment. 16 In the insect world, colonies of ants form rafts and bridges that allow them to span gaps and survive floods. The collective action of honeybees can control the fluid dynamics of the hive and thus aid in the ventilation of their home.…”

Section: Multiscale Physics Of Living Assemblagesmentioning

confidence: 99%