Video of a 3D reconstruction of the chewing mouthparts inside Zasphinctus sarowiwai

This video shows a rotating 3D reconstruction of the chewing mouthparts of the Zasphinctus sarowiwai ant, one of the three new species the OIST researchers described in their research. This is the first time that mouthparts are visualized in 3D in their original configuration. The yellow section shows the labrum, or the ant’s upper lip, the green section shows the maxillae, or the lower jaw, and the orange section shows the labium, or the lower lip. The various antennae-like appendages are called palps. All of these structures combined are responsible for processing food.