Morphology of the tentorium in the ant genus Lasius Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The tentorium is the internal skeleton of the head capsule of insects. Several studies have shown that the structure of the tentorium is an important factor not only for the morphology and systematics but also for the phylogeny and evolution. In ants, however, only three studies have reported tentorial morphology so far. We reveal the fundamental structure of the tentorium of the genus Lasius (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) and its minor variation among six species of the genus. Based on the results, we give new terminologies of the organ, presenting a schematic diagram of the tentorium. We clarify muscle attachment to the tentorium by constructing a three-dimension image of the tentorium and muscles. We then verify the attachment areas of the antennal muscles and maxillary adductor muscles on the tentorium. The results show that the muscular attachment areas are broader than previously thought. Our study indicates that the key to understanding the evolution of the tentorium is its functional morphology, in relation to the attachments of the muscles originating from the tentorium within the head capsule. This is the first report of the three-dimensional images of the ant tentorium and its attached muscles. The intra- and inter-specific variations of the tentorium is also reported for the first time.