The gaster is the bulbous posterior portion of the metasoma found in hymenopterans of the suborder Apocrita ( bees, wasps and ants). This begins with abdominal segment III on most ants, but some make a constricted postpetiole out of segment III, in which case the gaster begins with abdominal segment IV. [1] [2]
Certain ants in the genus Cataglyphis, including Cataglyphis bicolor and Cataglyphis fortis, have a cubiform petiole that allows them to decrease their inertia (and therefore increase their speed) by raising their gaster into an upright position. [3]
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Cataglyphis nigra with raised gaster
References
- ^ "Ant Information". Insected.arizona.edu. Archived from the original on 2014-10-07. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
- ^ "Notes from Underground-members". Desertants.org. Archived from the original on 2013-05-17. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
- ^ McMeeking, Robert M .; Arzt, Eduard; Wehner, Rüdiger (July 2011). "Cataglyphis desert ants improve their mobility by raising the gaster". Journal of Theoretical Biology. 297: 17–25. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2011.12.003. PMID 22178639.
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