The characterization of ecological communities with functional traits allows to consider
simultaneously the ability of a species to survive and reproduce in an environment, its …

Venomics research is being revolutionized by the increased use of sensitive-omics
techniques to identify venom toxins and their transcripts in both well studied and neglected …

The extraordinary success of social insects is partially based on division of labour, ie
individuals exclusively or preferentially perform specific tasks. Task preference may …

Bite forces play a key role in animal ecology: they affect mating behaviour, fighting success,
and the ability to feed. Although feeding habits of arthropods have a significant ecological …

Insects evolved various modifications to their mouthparts, allowing for a broad exploration of
feeding modes. In ants, workers perform non-reproductive tasks like excavation, food …

The chelicerates are a ubiquitous and speciose group of animals that has a considerable
ecological effect on modern terrestrial ecosystems—notably as predators of insects and …

What is the limit of animal speed and what mechanisms produce the fastest movements?
More than natural history trivia, the answer provides key insight into the form–function …

Atta leaf-cutter ants are the prime herbivore in the Neotropics: differently sized foragers
harvest plant material to grow a fungus as a crop. Efficient foraging involves complex …

Eurypterids (sea scorpions) are extinct aquatic chelicerates. Within this group, members of
Pterygotidae represent some of the largest known marine arthropods. Representatives of …

In the stag beetle family (Lucanidae), males have diverged from females by sexual selection.
The males fight each other for mating opportunities with their enlarged mandibles. It is …