In this blog we have told you on numerous occasions about the ants.
And is not for less; Well, when we see them around with their apparent innocence, running from anthill to anthill, loaded with leaves and twigsWe cannot imagine how precise are the intricate gears that make up your world.
Nestled in soldiers, scouts, workers and queensAs if it were a human population, these small, but not insignificant insects are a clear example of how important the organization for a society to work, whatever its type. But that is not all, because they also hide a large number of curiosities worthy of the most complex and intelligent of animals, so you will be surprised to find them in such a small one.
Ants curiosities
What are those winged ants that we see when it rains?
Surely you have ever heard someone, especially at old people, predict the rain When observing it, a large number of winged antsBut have you wondered what exactly they are?
Although in principle it may seem that it is a concrete species of insect, the truth is that in all colonies, whatever type they are, these types of ants appear, which are nothing more than virgin queens looking for a male to reproduce with.
And it is all part of a typical process of hymenptera insects, known as bridal flight, for which, after her birth, the queen remains in the colony waiting for a favorable little in terms of quantity of food (especially when it rains), to fly in search of virgin males, also winged, and mate with them in midair.
Once the process of reproductionthese ants they lose their wings and, in addition, many of them die, although those that survive go on to become the queen of a new colony. Come on, ants wings they are something like his particular hymen.
The curious and fearsome army of ants
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As I said at the beginning, the ant colonies They are made up of workers, soldiers, queens and explorers in a greater or lesser proportion, and may sometimes dispense with any of these types of members.
They are all interesting in their own way, but what undoubtedly catches your eye is how curiously elaborate the attack processes undertaken by Soldier ant armies.
It all starts when, for one reason or another, a colony decides declare war on another. At that time, each component of the anthill quickly incorporates its functions, so that the workers ensure that they are not lacking resources for survival from the rest of the members, the queens are sheltered by what may happen and the scouts and the soldiers march towards the battlefield.
In most species, the first row is made up of the explorers, who come out in front of the rest to explore the terrain, in order to notify others with a signal pheromones in case the thing gets ugly. If this happens, the rest of the soldiers will come to their rescue, leaving the rear stronger, which will be in charge of protecting the anthill with nails and teeth. Well, conpatitas and jaws.
Once the bloody fight begins, only one colony can win, but it is not only a matter of killing their rivals, who often they decapitate and tear apart, but some species also choose to take slaves, who will be in charge of helping in anthill labors, which in turn will always be safe thanks to some protective ants capable of giving their lives for the rest. And yes, in some cases that is literal, since it is known that the ants of the genus Cylindricus they have a bag loaded with a liquid that they make exploit after clinging to any enemy that intends to disturb the peace of the colony. The enemy dies, yes; but, logically, they too, in an act of heroism to be remembered by their companions. Or maybe not.
Ants also self-medicate
curiosities of ants
Just like humans, ants also know what substances they should take when they come across sick, as verified last year by a team of researchers from the Helsinki University.
In the study they carried out, they took a group of healthy ants and many others iaffected by a fungus, making available to all of them a ration of honey alone or mixed with hydrogen peroxide (the hydrogen peroxide of all life); that, despite being toxic to them, at low doses it is effective for fight infection.
Curiously, the healthy ones went directly to the honey without mixing, while those containing the fungus took the one with the hydrogen peroxide, thus reproducing a procedure that in nature is carried out through the intake of foods rich in this substance.
Good insects go to heaven, ants everywhere
It is hardly impossible for an ant get somewhere, as inaccessible as it appears, since they are able to resort to the most various tricks to get it.
For example, red ants have the ability to unite with each other to give rise to a kind of rafts, totally firm, on which the rest of the members of the colony can walk in order to cross flooded areas or any other inaccessible point.
In addition, they not only do it to navigate on the water, but also form true living bridges, which facilitate access between areas separated by an opening, such as the one seen in the photo.
Ants also go to school
Okay, the fact that they go to school is a little exaggerated, but the truth is that a specific species of ant, Temnothorax albipennis, has the ability to carry out a process of learning between students and tutors, which teach their pupils everything they need to get to an area where there is known to be resources of interest to the anthill.
Also, the thing does not stay in a I guide you and you follow me, but the teacher adapts to the student learning rhythm, so that the moment the first one stops feeling the antennas of the second one on it, it slows down so that it can accompany it, watch your movements.
Ants have their own farms
We humans believe that we were well ahead of the discover agriculture and livestock, but the truth is that we are not the only living beings capable of carrying out this type of activities, which do not involve no mystery to ants.
A good example is that of the species attini, which has the ability to collect leaves for them and grow mushrooms to feed their larvae. In addition, some species also organize true herd of aphids, who are literally milked to suck the sap that they keep inside, as if they were small vaquitas.
What do you think about this small selection about curiosities of ants? It is incredible that we have them constantly swarming around our feet and we know so little about them, right?
