Keystone-like crystals in cells of hornet combs

Ietse Stokroos, Luba Litinetsky (), Johannes J. L. van der Want and Jacob S. Ishay ()
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Ietse Stokroos: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Brain Cognition and Neurosciences, University of Groningen
Luba Litinetsky: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University
Johannes J. L. van der Want: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Brain Cognition and Neurosciences, University of Groningen
Jacob S. Ishay: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Nature, 2001, vol. 411, issue 6838, 654-654

Abstract: Abstract The hexagonal brood-rearing cells inside the nest combs of the hornet Vespa orientalis are uniform in both their architecture and orientation. We have discovered that each cell contains a minute crystal that projects down from the centre of its domed roof and has a composition typical of the magnetic mineral ilmenite1,2. These tiny crystals form a network that may act like a surveyor's spirit-level, helping the hornets to assess the symmetry and balance of the cells and the direction of gravity while they are building the comb.

Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1038/35079679

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