Ants are smart, organized creatures that can be found in nearly every part of the world. They are often seen as pests and invaders of homes, but there’s so much more to these insects than meets the eye! We have put together a list of five incredible facts about ants to help you learn more about them.
1. Ants are super strong.
Ant muscles have a larger cross-sectional area relative to their body size than those of larger animals, which gives them the ability to lift objects 10 times their own weight. Ants can also run up to 60 miles per hour!
2. Ants are social insects.
Ant colonies are made up of different types of ants maur, with the queen and females taking care of eggs and hatchlings while males go out to find mates. The rest of the ants are called workers and do jobs like foraging, cleaning, and defending the colony. Worker ants are so effective at their jobs that they can actually teach each other!
3. Ants have no ears.
The ant’s body is divided into three sections: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. The thorax contains all of the ant’s legs and is connected to the abdomen, which contains the ant’s vital organs. Ants do not have ears and instead feel vibrations in the ground with special sensors on their feet and knees, as well as their antennae. Ants also use their antennae to taste and smell, with the outer pair of jaws opening and closing like a pair of scissors.
4. Ants can survive in water.
Ants in the Amazon rainforest have been known to link their legs together to form a raft that allows them to float down rivers! They also have small holes around their bodies that can be opened and closed to allow them to breathe. When the ants are submerged in water, they can breathe through these spiracles for up to 24 hours before they drown.
5. Ants have a very long lifespan.
Ants are the only insects that live as long as humans, with a queen ant living up to three decades! This is likely due to their social structures and incredibly effective teamwork. A single ant can have as many as 250,000 brain cells!
Next time you’re outside, look for a trail of ants and follow it to see how these tiny creatures work together. It’s an amazing and humbling sight to behold! You might want to bring a bug jar with you to get a closer look. If you have a magnifying glass, you can even better examine an ant’s anatomy. You can learn more about ants by observing how they build and forage for food or by using TERRO® ant control products to eliminate them from your home or business! Enjoy learning more about these fascinating insects and be sure to check out our other informative ant articles. If you need a helping hand with your ant problem, contact TERRO® today!