macro photo from reddit showing the psammophore of a harvester ant. A set of coarse, curved hairs under her head that she uses like a basket to move sand.

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1. myrmepropagandist (futurebird@sauropods.win)'s status on Monday, 22-Jan-2024 15:41:56 JST myrmepropagandist

   Did you know that some ants have a "basket" of hairs under their head used to move sandy soil more efficiently?

   The hairs that make up this basket are called ammochaetae, and they are more robust than the sensitive setae that ants use to sense sound and air currents.

   The basket of ammochaetae is known as a psammophore. Use it in a sentence today!

   "I'm not making trips for all these groceries. I'll make my arms like a psammophore and tote them all at once!"

   https://www.reddit.com/r/Entomology/comments/74zdrr/california_harvester_ant/