“…This feature is often documented in arthropod cuticle (Bresciani, ; Dalingwater, ; Selden, ) as pore canals transport nutrients, excrement, wax and metals through the cuticle (Brito et al, ; Chen et al, ; Cribb et al, ; Mekhanikova et al, ; Neville, ). Formicidan taxa impregnate metal in mandible cuticle to increase the strength and durability thereof (Cribb et al, ; Edwards et al, ; Schofield, Nesson, & Richardson, ).…”