Utilizing advanced X-ray technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence, entomologists have successfully developed interactive digital imagery for 792 ant species across 212 genera.
A detailed Antscan specimen rendering: Eciton Hamatum. Image credit: Katzke et al., doi: 10.1038/s41592-026-03005-0.
To create this extensive digital library, researchers at the Okinawa University of Science and Technology, led by Julian Katzke, gathered ethanol-preserved ant specimens from museums, partner institutions, and global experts.
The team organized the specimens by species and category and transported them to the lab. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany provided cutting-edge X-ray micro-CT scanning, similar to medical CT scans but with significantly higher magnification.
A synchrotron particle accelerator generated a powerful X-ray beam, enabling rapid scanning of a vast array of samples, while a robotic sample changer seamlessly rotated images every 30 seconds.
This sophisticated process facilitated the production of 2D image stacks, essential for constructing 3D models.
Despite the utility of raw image files, initial depictions of the ant specimens were often distorted, falling short of achieving the realistic models scientists envisioned.
3D imaging allows for the visualization of internal structures, including muscles, nervous systems, and digestive systems, at a micrometer level of resolution.
These models can easily be animated or integrated into virtual reality environments for purposes spanning research, education, and entertainment.
“If we had conducted this project using a standard lab-based CT scanner, it would have taken six years of continuous operation,” Dr. Katzke explained.
“With the KIT setup, we scanned 2,000 specimens in just one week.”
Professor Evan Economo, a researcher at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and the University of Maryland, remarked, “Without these computational tools, completing this project manually would have been nearly impossible.”
Dubbed the Antscan, this initiative could pave the way for future digitization efforts across various species beyond ants.
“The significance of this research extends far beyond ants,” Professor Economo stated. “Once specimens are digitized, we can create libraries that enhance the utilization of biological materials across science labs, classrooms, and even Hollywood studios.”
The team’s study was published in the prestigious journal Nature Methods.
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J. Katzke et al. High-throughput phenomics of global ant biodiversity. Nat Methods published online March 5, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41592-026-03005-0
Source: www.sci.news
