Ants are taking over. With a staggering 20 quadrillion ants crawling across the planet, that’s 2.5 million ants for every human.
Now, ask yourself: Could you fight 2.5 million ants all on your own?
Ants thrive in massive colonies housing hundreds of thousands of these tiny warriors, each capable of carrying 50 times their own body weight. When threatened, they move with a singular purpose: protect the colony at all costs.
We’re not confident we could survive a battle with 2.5 million ants, so it’s time to study our enemy. By understanding their survival strategies, maybe — just maybe — we can find a way to stop them before it’s too late … or at least, stop them from invading our next lunchtime picnic.
Let’s dive into the captivating world of entomology and explore what makes ants such successful survivors.
All in a Day’s Worker Ant
Colonies are typically led by one or more queens — in some species, thousands — with mature queens capable of laying thousands of eggs in a single day. As for male ants, or drones, they have one job: mate with the queen. They die soon after. (So dramatic.)
The real heavy lifters? They’re all female. Worker ants may not reproduce, but they handle everything else, including gathering food, tending to the queen’s young, building and maintaining the nest and defending the colony with their lives.
When they stumble upon a tasty snack or sense danger, worker ants release pheromones to alert others. While most ants stick to a diet of nectar, seeds, fungus or other insects, some species like army ants prey on reptiles, birds and small mammals. If you’ve ever accidentally stepped on an ant mound, you know they’re not afraid to attack a human thousands of times their size.
Good Ol’ Reliable Venom
Ants are known for overwhelming their prey with sheer numbers, but let’s not forget that ants are among the most abundant groups of venomous creatures on the planet. Some ant species are even solitary hunters, capable of subduing prey with their venom alone.
Their venom isn’t just for hunting, however. Ants have adapted to use their venom for a variety of purposes. It can serve as an antimicrobial and herbicide and even plays a role in chemical communication.
Extraordinary Ant Defense Mechanisms and Survival Strategies
There over 12,000 known ant species, and each has evolved unique survival strategies. Here are some of the most remarkable:
Ants That Engineer
Native to South America, fire ants are infamous for their burning stings. But they’re also the engineers of the insect world, capable of climbing on and over each other to form living structures. A particularly impressive feat is their ability to survive floods by locking together to create water-repellent rafts that can float for weeks.
Believe it or not, the queen doesn’t issue orders to the colony. Each ant operates on its own, gathering information from its immediate surroundings to figure out what to do next.
Ants That Explode
Colobopsis explodens doesn’t sting or bite hard, but when threatened, it has one incredible trick up its sleeve. First, these ants raise their rump as a warning. Then, if the attacker doesn’t retreat, one of the ants will sacrifice itself, clamping down and flexing its abdomen until it bursts, releasing a stick, yellow toxin. Brutal.
Ants of the Seven Kingdoms
Native to Papua New Guinea, Pheidole drogon and Pheidole viserion look absolutely bizarre. These ants have barbs along their backs and shoulders, likely for fending off predators. But beneath those spikes, scientists discovered an unusual set of muscles that suggest the spikes also provide extra support for the ants’ oversized heads. And yes, they’re named after the dragons from “Game of Thrones.”
Ants That Have Watched Too Many “Saw” Movies
Meet Allomerus decemarticulatus, the trap-setting ant. Living in the leaf pouches of Amazonian plants, these workers build galleried structures in their host plant’s stems, piercing small holes through which they can poke their heads. Under the holes, they lie in wait, mandibles open, poised to strike at unsuspecting insects. It’s the stuff of nightmares.
Ants: A Formidable Opponent
Ants are incredible creatures capable of performing extraordinary feats, from building living structures to literally exploding to protect their colony. Thankfully, they seem content with raiding our pantries and crashing our picnics rather than attacking the human race. But then again, you can never be too careful …
Sharing the Planet With Ants and Other Insects
Curious about turning your interest in ants and other insects into a career? You’re not alone.
The University of Florida offers online graduate programs for those interested in learning more about ants, fleas, termites and other pests as well as the integrated pest management (IPM) techniques used to keep them out of our homes and gardens. At UF, you can pursue a master’s degree or graduate certificate in:
- Landscape Pest Management
- Urban Pest Management
The best part? You can complete your studies entirely online, on your own time — perfect for working professionals with a full schedule.
Ready to gain the knowledge and skills needed to advance your career in the IPM field? Check out our online graduate programs. And when you’re ready, apply to UF!
Sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4728552/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-fire-ants-form-giant-rafts-to-survive-floods/
