Like a self-absorbed teenager, insects spend a lot of time
grooming.
In a study that delves into the mechanisms behind this
common function, North Carolina State University researchers show that insect
grooming – specifically, antennal cleaning – removes both environmental
pollutants and chemicals produced by the insects themselves.
The findings, published online this week in Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences, show that grooming helps insects maintain
acute olfactory senses that are responsible for a host of functions, including
finding food, sensing danger and even locating a suitable mate.