More than 100 million years ago, ants already inhabited the Earth and practically did not undergo evolutionary changes. And today, these insects accompany people, wherever they are: in their homes, on the way to work, on vacation, and all because with their extremely small size they make up to 25% of the biomass living on the surface of the planet.
Although there are more than 13,000 of their species, and they are distributed almost everywhere except Antarctica, people do not know all the interesting facts about ants.
Hardworking insects
There is a science to study the habitat and lifestyle of these insects, which is called myrmecology. Dozens of world-class scientists, starting from the 18th century, have devoted themselves to their study, but insects still amaze with their ability to adapt to circumstances, the environment and the ability to completely restore their anthill, even if it is destroyed.
The data collected by scientists can be combined into 10 interesting facts about ants, although there are much more.
The first fact that is characteristic of almost all ants, regardless of where they live, is an amazing hard work. It may seem to an outside observer that insects randomly move from the anthill and back, but in fact each of them has responsibilities for which failure can be punished and even the death penalty.
The construction of the nest, its protection, maintaining cleanliness and obtaining food are not the only duties of these hardworking creatures. The basis of the colony is a formed family, each member of which belongs to a particular caste.
Ant family
Interesting facts about ants relate to the position of insects in the family hierarchy. This is the second point, allowing the colony to exist for many years and expand their holdings.
Any anthill begins with a small number of individuals, which increases to several millions, occupying large territories. Conventionally, the family of these insects can be divided into females, males and “hard workers”.
No matter what position the insects occupy in the family, everyone must properly perform their duties - the queen can be killed as well as the working ant. Everything is subject to the concept of the benefits and significance of each individual for the development and strengthening of the colony.
The external difference between representatives of different castes is manifested in the presence of wings in males and females and their absence in working individuals.
The method of birth also depends on "origin." For example, queens and workers are born from fertilized, and males from unfertilized eggs. Therefore, red, red and black ants have 3 stages of growing up - an egg, a larva and a pupa. No less interesting facts from the life of ants relate to their queens.
The life and work of the ant queen
In each anthill there can be from one to several queens, it all depends on the size of the colony. The third important factor for the full growth of the family is the vital activity of its female. It is surprising that the queen mates only once, and the sperm received should be enough for her until the end of her life, which lasts from 12 to 20 years.
In some species of ants, the female mates with one male, leaving for mating flight, while in others this happens with several dozen males. After fertilization, the queen chooses to stay in the same anthill or organize a new one.
In case of leaving the nest, she must find not only a suitable place to organize a new colony, but also establish a “maternity ward” where she will lay her first eggs. To maintain their life, females of some species of ants, leaving the old nest, take for the organization and cultivation of the garden spores of mushrooms, which they plant in a new place. Well, aren't these interesting facts about ants for children?
The ability to grow and breed food
Only 4 species of creatures on the ground consciously raise "cattle" and grow plants so that the family does not need food during a sedentary lifestyle - these are ants, bark beetles, termites and people. At the same time, insects have several million more years of experience than humans. This is the 4th fact from the life of these insects.
Some species of ants not only grow mushrooms on their own plantations, but also treat them with pesticides, which they themselves “produce”.
As noted by myrmecologists, no matter in which countries and on which continents colonies of ants that can grow mushrooms are found, they do it exactly the same, as if they are exchanging experiences with each other.
In such colonies, workers are selected who could fulfill the duties of cultivating and growing mushrooms in a quality manner, for which purpose already trained ants become “teachers” for the young labor force. Do you think that's all? No, we continue to consider interesting facts about ants for children and not only that.
Teaching young animals
As it turned out, for most species of ants it is customary not only to distribute responsibilities among working individuals, but also to train them, for which they have special mentors. This is the 5th fact from the life of these amazing insects.
According to myrmecologists, ants are not born with certain skills that would determine their future activity in the anthill. When an insect grows up, it is sent to the "team" to perform any work, for example, cleaning, security, food production, etc.
In order to learn activities unusual for himself and to develop skills, the youngster repeats what the mentor does. They learn, like human children. Each new task is more difficult, and it is given to practice previous skills.
During this process, there is constant contact between the mentor ant and his student. These are also interesting facts about ants, since such behavior is characteristic only of humans and higher primates. The difference from the human school is that those who slowly perform their duties or do not cope with them are not left for the next year, but sent to other jobs where they can be useful to the colony.
Breeding other insects for food
The sixth point is the ability to graze and propagate your food. There are interesting facts about ants that specifically breed aphids, caterpillars, and mealybugs.
Trained individuals not only herd their “cattle” and are distilled to new pastures, but also collect nectar from them, which they eat.
This function is so important for the colony that ants overtake their "herds" in case of leaving the anthill.
Ant slaves
The seventh and eighth, the most interesting facts about ants, included points that they have slaves and wage wars. Only a few species of ants practice slavery, but life in their colonies depends on the number of captured workers.
From here we can trace the 8th fact that ants wage aggressive wars with the aim of gaining foreign territory or many slaves. The prisoners do the same as in their anthill, they only provide their labor for the lives of other people and do not raise their offspring.
Cloning and burial
There are not many animals on Earth who would bury their dead relatives. This 9th fact places ants next to people and elephants. Special anthill cleaners take out dead animals from it and stack it outside the colony. This is a precaution so that healthy ants do not get sick, and house hygiene.
The tenth fact is the unique ability of ants to clone themselves. This is characteristic, for example, of fire ants and "Amazons." Entire colonies of females use parthenogenesis to reproduce their own kind without the participation of males.