Ants
New ant species discovered with a metal reinforced mouth parts
These predatory ants must have fed on soft bodied animals. When they encounter their prey, their clypeal hairs touch its body. This triggers the sudden closure of mandibles in upward direction. Pointed mandibles now pierce the prey’s body. Using the channels in mandibles, these ants can suck haemolymph (blood) out of the body of prey.
INFO OF THE DAY
Mirror-Spider
This is called a mirror or sequined spider. These spiders are all members of the Thwaitesia genus. Their most distinctive trait is the reflective silvery patches on their abdomen, hence the common name. The scales look like solid pieces of mirror glued to the spider’s back, but they can actually change size depending on how threatened the spider feels. The reflective scales are composed of reflective guanine, which these and other spiders use to give themselves color.
