Stereo Smelling of a Desert Ant (IMAGE)

Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

Stereo Smelling of a Desert Ant

Caption

Its two antennae enable the desert ant to smell in stereo. The ant is not only able to use a single odor source for navigation, it can also memorize several odor sources in the vicinity of its nest. The picture shows four separate sources of odor molecules that the insect is able to recognize with its antennae.

Credit

Picture/Photomontage: MPI for Chemical Ecology, Markus Knaden

Usage Restrictions

None

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.