Important Facts For Prelims
Brazilian Velvet Ant
- 03 Jan 2025
- 4 min read
Why in News?
A study in the Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology revealed that the Brazilian velvet ant (Traumatomutilla bifurca) has "ultrablack" body parts.
- These parts absorb over 99.5% of visible light, making them nearly invisible. The discovery highlights unique biological nanostructures with potential applications in technology.
What are the Key Facts About Brazilian Velvet Ant?
- Taxonomy: Velvet ants are not "ants," they are a species of wasp from the family Mutillidae.
- Velvet belongs to the Hymenoptera order, which also includes bees and other wasps.
- Some species, such as Traumatomutilla bifurca (Brazilian velvet ant), display distinct black and white markings, making them visually striking in tropical savanna and dry shrub deserts.
- Ultrablack Property: Female velvet ants display an ultrablack color which was first observed in Traumatomutilla bifurca, which absorbs nearly all visible light.
- The unique color comes from special microstructures in the exoskeleton that trap light. Ultrablack pigmentation helps with camouflage, temperature control, and attracting mates.
- Males vs. Females: Only female velvet ants display ultrablack coloration, while males have similar black markings but reflect more light.
- Role in Ecosystem: Serves as a pollinator and contributes to maintaining ecological balance.
- Evolutionary Significance: The ultrablack property highlights convergent evolution, where unrelated species develop similar traits.
- This adaptation is also observed in birds-of-paradise and deep-sea fish, aiding in camouflage and survival.
- Potential Scientific Applications: The ultrablack property reveals insights into nanostructures and inspires advancements in stealth technology and solar panel efficiency.
Note:
- Ants, though small in size, have colonized nearly every landmass on Earth. Their total biomass is expected to surpass that of birds and mammals combined.
- Biomass, in ecological context, refers to the total mass of living organisms, including plants and animals, within a given area or volume of a habitat.
- Ants are eusocial insects with highly organized colonies that demonstrate significant cooperation and division of labor.
- According to the World Economic Forum, Ants use feedback (responses to actions) to regulate foraging (searching for food), conserving energy and resources. This principle of minimizing waste can enhance efficiency in systems like energy use or data management.
- Additionally, Ants operate without central control, proving that complex tasks can be managed through simple interactions.
- A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrated that ants, particularly longhorn crazy ants (Paratrechina longicornis) excel in collective problem-solving by coordinating efforts without verbal communication.
- According to the study Ants outperformed humans in an experiment involving carrying a T-shaped object through obstacles.
