The effect of tooth shape on the breakdown of insects

This study investigates the effect of tooth sharpness on the force and ener gy necessary for a tooth to divide foods of differing physical properties. The material properties of foods are likely to affect the shape that is bes t to divide them. In order to test the effect of sharpness on a tooth's pro ficiency in dividing insect prey, experiments involving penetrating and dri ving through insect prey of differing physical properties were carried out using specially designed punches that varied in tip- and cusp-sharpness. A refinement of tooth measurements which are relevant to their effectiveness in penetrating and driving through food is expounded. 'Tip-sharpness' is de fined as the radius of curvature at the tip of a cusp. 'Cusp-sharpness' is defined as the volume or surface area of the tooth per unit distance from t he tip of a cusp. The experiments show that tooth sk;ape is important in th e force and energy needed for teeth to penetrate and drive through insects. Also, the scale of teeth is important - teeth of the same shape but differ ent size vary in their effectiveness to divide foods.