Researchers find Amazonian cicada clay towers protect against predators and regulate airflow
Updated
Updated · Earth.com · Apr 28
Researchers find Amazonian cicada clay towers protect against predators and regulate airflow
6 articles · Updated · Earth.com · Apr 28
The study, conducted near Manaus, Brazil, showed towers reduced ant presence by eight times and aided cicada breathing during metamorphosis.
Experiments revealed that larger towers buffered respiratory stress better, and cicada nymphs rebuilt towers after airflow disruption, highlighting the structures as adaptive survival tools.
This research reframes the towers as an extended phenotype, integrating them into cicada biology and providing a clearer target for future studies on environmental influences and survival strategies.
How does a simple mud tower function as an 'external lung' for an insect?
How do cicada nymphs know how tall to build their life-saving towers?
Does deforestation threaten the survival of these insect master builders?
What can cicada architects teach humans about building ventilation systems?
What is the true energy cost for a cicada to build its protective clay tower?
Is an animal's construction, like a dam or tower, part of its own body?