Ant Facts
Ant Facts - Amazing But True
Being social insects, ants lead a fascinating life, providing a multitude of ant facts worth studying. Perhaps the most interesting feature about ants, is how they manage activities within their colonies. We'll get to that shortly, but first take a brief look at the individual ant.
There are a number of interesting ant facts pertaining not only to colonies of ants, but to the individual as well. With thousands of known species in the world, there are obviously differences from species to species. The differences in size, temperament, and attack and defense practices, are the most notable. In general, the ant is quite intelligent for an insect, having a larger brain than most other insects. Ants are very strong, able to lift and carry objects many times their own weight. In addition, they are equipped with powerful jaws used in eating, fighting, digging, and to carry objects. Some ants have stingers, while others eject an acidic fluid as a means of attack or defense. In spite of their jaws, ants cannot chew food, but get their nourishment from liquids that they squeeze from food particles.
The average life expectancy for most ants is two to three months, though a queen ant will live much longer. There are normally several queen ants in a given colony, the single responsibility of each being to lay eggs. The function of the male ants is to mate, after which they die. The worker ants in a colony are sterile, and perform a number of tasks including gathering food, caring for the young, and defending the colony from intrusion or attack.
It is what goes on inside a nest or colony which gives rise to the more interesting ant facts. Various groups of worker ants are given very specific tasks. The colony as a whole manages to keep the number of ants assigned to these different tasks in the correct proportion. Ants are very clean, and some worker ants are assigned to take out the garbage. Others feed and care for the young, while still others may move eggs back and forth, depending upon the outside temperature, so the eggs do not become either overheated or too cold. Other ants are assigned security duties, protecting the colony from enemies or intruders.
As a food gatherer, a worker will search for food, and upon finding a source, will leave a chemical trail, so other workers in the colony can easily find it. Even though assigned to a specific type of task, the worker ant seems to have little trouble in taking on a different task, should the need arise. On occasion, there are major construction efforts to be done, and all will pitch in.
Researchers have painted colored dots on the backs of ants, to gather some ant facts relating to gaining an understanding their work assignments, as well as determining when a given ant, or group of ants, will switch assignments. The way an ant colony can work as a well organized team is one of the wonders of the natural world.