Ants correspond to animals that belong to the phylum of arthropods, to the class of insects and are grouped in the family Formicidae. These tiny but impressive animals are full of curiosities and, despite their small sizes, they are capable of amazing behaviors related to their organization, way of communicating, distribution of work, feeding habits and much more. So, join us in this article on our site and discover the 15 curiosities of the most amazing ants
1. They have great organizational skills
One of the most outstanding characteristics of ants is that they are a group with great organizational capacity, forming a particular type known as " eusocial ", which means "true society". This type of grouping is defined by the presence of certain aspects such as division of reproductive work, cooperation in caring for offspring, overlapping of several generations, and altruism.
In this sense, ants have a complex social structure made up of different individuals with different functions. In this way, their organization consists of queens and males who are mainly responsible for reproduction of the colony and workers that share responsibilities and specialize in building the nest, caring for the larvae, foraging and providing protection.
two. Ants drink water
All living beings require water to survive, although the specific requirements vary from one group to another. Ants are no exception, therefore, they drink water and obviously their water needs are not so high, so it is common to see these insects drinking the liquid from a drop of water Likewise, the nest of these insects requires a certain humidity, which is controlled by themselves, so the water plays a fundamental role in the subsistence of the colony.
3. There are flying ants
It is common to think of ants as exclusively terrestrial insects that lack wings, however, they really belong to the Pterygota group, which are winged insects, including some that have lost their wings due to adaptive processes, as is the case with ants. But not all members of a colony of these animals have lost their wings, it turns out that both queens and males do have them. In fact, when it is time to reproduce, they make a nuptial flight so that, after the reproductive act, the female sheds her wings and settles on land founding her own colony. Thus, another of the curiosities of ants is that there are ants with wings.
In this other article we talk in detail about how ants reproduce.
4. They are a very diverse group
Ants are a highly diverse group, of which around 358 genera have been identified, more than 10,000 species and some 4,515 subspecies, but estimates suggest that these data are increasing. Their number is so high, that they occupy between 15 and 20% of the terrestrial animal biomass of the planet, which already suggests us about their diversity and quantity for each existing species.
Get to know the types of ants that exist in this other post.
5. They smell through the antennae
The chemical communication that occurs in this group is perceived through the antennae, that is, through these structures the ants smell, since they contain some receptors of organic chemical compounds, which have been identified and named as cuticular hydrocarbons. Each individual produces these substances in different parts of the body, which are perceived by the other members of the colony.
6. Each colony has a particular smell
The role of chemical communication is so complex that it has been identified that each colony has a characteristic odor, which is caused by different aspects such as genetics, physiology and group dietThanks to these factors, it gives rise to its own smell, which is transmitted between individuals from birth through physical contact, which helps to recognize each other. Without a doubt, this is one of the most curious facts about ants, don't you think?
7. They build complex nests
Ant nests are far from being simple structures, on the contrary, they are characterized by their great complexity. The same are made up of various tunnels that can be several meters deep, as well as different chambers for storing food, keeping the young and shelter for the queen. They may also use logs or other spaces to set up their elaborate shelter. However, the life of the ants is not always the same, since some, on the contrary, can lead a life of nomadism.
8. They form rafts to float
Some species, such as the red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), have a great ability to group together when floods occur, forming a kind of rafts that allow them to stay floating in the water for several days until they can reach dry land. This complex interlocking system mainly protects the queen and the larvae. In this way, the rest of the workers and males take care of them by staying together at the bottom to prevent water from passing through, while the ones above leave certain spaces for oxygen to circulate. This is, without a doubt, a perfect work of natural engineering.
9. There are very dangerous ants
Various species of ants can cause significant harm to people due to their toxins, which can cause a lot of pain and even serious problems in certain people and other animals. Some examples are the jumping ant (Myrmecia pilosula), the red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) and the bullet ant (Paraponera clavata), among others. In addition, in some cases they can become pests that damage certain crops.
10. They protect the plants where they live
Ants, in some cases, have developed symbiotic relationships with certain plant species where both obtain benefits One case is between the ergot plant (Acacia cornigera) and the acacia ant (Pseudomyrmex ferrugineus). The first gives the insect a place to live, it also offers two nutritional substances that it produces and uses as food. For its part, the ant is characterized by being very aggressive with any other animal that approaches the plant to feed on it, freeing it from any attack that causes damage.
eleven. They play an important role in ecosystems
Another of the curiosities of ants and, moreover, a very beneficial aspect, is the role they play in certain cases within ecosystems, since they can act as controllers biological of other species. Also, when they dig their underground nests in such an optimal way, they often help to aerate the soil, which is positive for the plants and other animals that inhabit it. On the other hand, they have a good participation in the cycling of nutrients through their diet. Without a doubt, ants are not only fascinating animals, but also necessary!
12. They have a tiny but complex brain
The brain of an ant has a dimension of approximately 0.06 cubic millimeters, which may lead us to believe that it is a simple structure, But this is not so. Their brain is complex, since, despite their size, it allows them to process the communicative aspects that occur between them, in turn influencing the optimal form of grouping that characterizes them.
13. They bury their dead
Another curiosity of the ants is that they do not ignore the dead and even wounded members of the colony. When one dies inside the nest or close to it, the workers are in charge of moving it to a distant place or even in a private chamber inside the den When it is a a colony that is just being founded by the queen, she herself is capable of separating the body of a dead member to deposit it in a specific place.
14. They communicate in different ways
These little insects have a very complex communication system, managing to develop it in three ways: olfactory, visual and tactile. The first is, without a doubt, the most developed and curious, since it is through the chemical perception of compounds known as pheromones that the ants manage to communicate.
On the other hand, although vision is not as well developed, it plays an important role in allowing these animals to recognize the space through which they move. As for physical communication, it becomes essential for groups that work on the same tasks and interact constantly. Additionally, the ants also sense vibrations in the ground.
Don't miss the article on How ants communicate to find out in great detail how this system works.
fifteen. They live almost everywhere in the world
These insects have practically conquered the whole world, with the exception of Antarctica. In this way, they develop in a wide range of ecosystems with diverse conditions, where they manage to adapt appropriately and take advantage of the available resources of the place. This makes ants undoubtedly a cosmopolitan group.
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