Termite's Twisted Mandible Presents Fast, Powerful, and Precise Strikes.

ABSTRACT: The asymmetric mandibles of termites are hypothetically more efficient, rapid, and powerful than the symmetric mandibles of snap-jaw ants or termites. We investigated the velocity, force, precision, and defensive performance of the asymmetric mandibular snaps of a termite species, Pericapritermes nitobei. Ultrahigh-speed recordings of termites revealed a new record in biological movement, with a peak linear velocity of 89.7-132.4 m/s within 8.68 μs after snapping, which caused an impact force of 105.8-156.2 mN. High-speed video recordings of ball-strike experiments on termites were analysed using the principle of energy conservation; the left mandibles precisely hit metal balls at the left-to-front side with a maximum linear velocity of 80.3 ± 15.9 m/s (44.0-107.7 m/s) and an impact force

SUBMITTER: Kuan KC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7289866 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature