The Skeletomuscular System of the Mesosoma of <i>Formica rufa</i> Workers (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract The mesosoma is the power core of ant, containing critical structural and muscular elements for movement head, legs, metasoma. It has been hypothesized that adaptation to ground locomotion loss flight led substantial rearrangements in worker ants it likely ant undergone functional modifications as diversified into different ecological behavioral niches. Despite this importance, studies on anatomy are still scarce, there limited understanding important variation internal structures across phylogeny. Recent advances imaging techniques have made possible digitally dissect small insects, document efficiently detail, visualize these data 3D. Here we mesosomal skeletomuscular system workers red wood Formica rufa Linnaeus, 1761, use establish a 3D atlas will serve reference work further studies. We discuss illustrate configuration components function muscles interaction with skeletal elements. This anatomical evaluation ‘generalized’ provides template future radiation Formicidae, ultimate objective synthesizing structural, functional, transformational information understand evolution crucial body region ants.