Low radiodensity μCT scans to reveal detailed morphology of the termite leg and its subgenual organ.

Sansom, TM; Oberst, S; Richter, A; Lai, JCS; Saadatfar, M; Nowotny, M; Evans, TA

Low radiodensity μCT scans to reveal detailed morphology of the termite leg and its subgenual organ.

Sansom, TM Oberst, S

Richter, A Lai, JCS Saadatfar, M Nowotny, M Evans, TA

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Arthropod Struct Dev, 2022, 70, pp. 101191
Issue Date:: 2022-09

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Sansom, TM
dc.contributor.author	Oberst, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1388-2749
dc.contributor.author	Richter, A
dc.contributor.author	Lai, JCS
dc.contributor.author	Saadatfar, M
dc.contributor.author	Nowotny, M
dc.contributor.author	Evans, TA
dc.date.accessioned	2023-03-12T23:50:43Z
dc.date.available	2022-06-09
dc.date.available	2023-03-12T23:50:43Z
dc.date.issued	2022-09
dc.identifier.citation	Arthropod Struct Dev, 2022, 70, pp. 101191
dc.identifier.issn	1467-8039
dc.identifier.issn	1873-5495
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/167107
dc.description.abstract	Termites sense tiny substrate-borne vibrations through subgenual organs (SGOs) located within their legs' tibiae. Little is known about the SGOs' structure and physical properties. We applied high-resolution (voxel size 0.45 μm) micro-computed tomography (μCT) to Australian termites, Coptotermes lacteus and Nasutitermes exitiosus (Hill) to test two staining techniques. We compared the effectiveness of a single stain of Lugol's iodine solution (LS) to LS followed by Phosphotungstic acid (PTA) solutions (1% and 2%). We then present results of a soldier of Nasutitermes exitiosus combining μCT with LS + 2%PTS stains and scanning electron microscopy to exemplify the visualisation of their SGOs. The termite's SGO due to its approximately oval shape was shown to have a maximum diameter of 60 μm and a minimum of 48 μm, covering 60 ± 4% of the leg's cross-section and 90.4 ± 5% of the residual haemolymph channel. Additionally, the leg and residual haemolymph channel cross-sectional area decreased around the SGO by 33% and 73%, respectively. We hypothesise that this change in cross-sectional area amplifies the vibrations for the SGO. Since SGOs are directly connected to the cuticle, their mechanical properties and the geometric details identified here may enable new approaches to determine how termites sense micro-vibrations.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP200100358
dc.relation	NSW Department of Industry
dc.relation	DAAD Germany
dc.relation.ispartof	Arthropod Struct Dev
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.asd.2022.101191
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0608 Zoology
dc.subject.classification	Entomology
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Isoptera
dc.subject.mesh	Vibration
dc.subject.mesh	X-Ray Microtomography
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Isoptera
dc.subject.mesh	Vibration
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	X-Ray Microtomography
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Isoptera
dc.subject.mesh	Vibration
dc.subject.mesh	X-Ray Microtomography
dc.title	Low radiodensity μCT scans to reveal detailed morphology of the termite leg and its subgenual organ.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	70
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	0608 Zoology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-03-12T23:50:42Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	70

Abstract:

Termites sense tiny substrate-borne vibrations through subgenual organs (SGOs) located within their legs' tibiae. Little is known about the SGOs' structure and physical properties. We applied high-resolution (voxel size 0.45 μm) micro-computed tomography (μCT) to Australian termites, Coptotermes lacteus and Nasutitermes exitiosus (Hill) to test two staining techniques. We compared the effectiveness of a single stain of Lugol's iodine solution (LS) to LS followed by Phosphotungstic acid (PTA) solutions (1% and 2%). We then present results of a soldier of Nasutitermes exitiosus combining μCT with LS + 2%PTS stains and scanning electron microscopy to exemplify the visualisation of their SGOs. The termite's SGO due to its approximately oval shape was shown to have a maximum diameter of 60 μm and a minimum of 48 μm, covering 60 ± 4% of the leg's cross-section and 90.4 ± 5% of the residual haemolymph channel. Additionally, the leg and residual haemolymph channel cross-sectional area decreased around the SGO by 33% and 73%, respectively. We hypothesise that this change in cross-sectional area amplifies the vibrations for the SGO. Since SGOs are directly connected to the cuticle, their mechanical properties and the geometric details identified here may enable new approaches to determine how termites sense micro-vibrations.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/167107