Speaker
Description
The sense of olfaction (smell) in honeybees occurs through sensory receptors along their antennae. We study one type of sensor called a placode, which densely covers each antenna in a regular formation. Sitting close the antennae’s surface, each placode is covered by hundreds of innervated pores that capture olfactory particles. We seek to understand how the morphology and configuration of placodes along the antenna affect the flow of air and how this fluid-structure interaction impacts a bee's ability to smell.
The precise role of the placode's morphology in olfaction is unknown. Two candidate shapes have been identified, which we shall examine. Each is of distinct morphology presenting as either a pit (with an initial sharp ring and smooth inner) or a mound (with a small divot on top).
We model the fluid-structure interaction of the airflow and placodes considering their morphology and configuration to assess their role in volatile capture. Due to the depth and relative length of the placodes, the so-called condensed flow equations apply. Initially, we consider two and three-dimensional configurations for a single placode to investigate the local influences of its morphology on the fluid flow. We later extend this scenario to that of a three-dimensional periodic case, whereby the streamwise and crosswise interactions of many placodes is considered. Finally, we compare these results to FEM models and assess the potential role of electrostatics in this olfactory process.
