Ants are some of the most common insects in the world and they have been on the planet for over 100 million years. More than 12,500 species of ants have been classified, with the most common type being the red fire ant. Ants can be found almost everywhere on the planet and there are estimated to be around one million trillion individual ants alive at any one time.
At first glance, ants may look like small, inconsequential creatures but to truly understand their importance, one must consider their presence within our daily lives. Not only are they extremely vital for soil health, by providing aeration and distribution of organic material, but their rich social structures and industriousness has been admired for centuries. In fact, ants are regularly cited as one of the most successful species in terms of self-organisation and their ability to survive in some of the most extreme environments.
The amazing complexity behind individual colonies and their social dynamics has piqued the interest of many experts in the field. Studies have revealed that ants are capable of many incredible things, from being able to communicate with one another through chemical signals, to navigating their environment using the sun, to working together to build elaborate nests with each member playing its part.
The incredible adaptability of the ant is further demonstrated by its ability to make their home almost anywhere, such as in deserts, forests, mountains and even inside buildings. This is made possible by the ant’s complex behaviour and ability to rapidly increase the size of their colonies, should the need arise.
Another remarkable aspect of ants often overlooked is their strength – for their size, ants are incredibly powerful, able to lift up to ten times their own body weight. This level of strength enables them to survive in harsher habitats and give them the ability to work together to construct elaborate structures. For example, leaf-cutter ants are known to collect leaves and use them to produce large nests out of fungus.
From an evolutionary perspective, ants have proven to be immensely successful due to their high reproductive rate, colonies providing them with optimum protection against predation and their ability to colonise virtually any environment. These features combined have allowed ants to remain a dominant species throughout the ages.
The Impact of Ants
Though often too small to be noticed, ants play an integral role in the ecosystem, performing important tasks such as breaking down dead matter, aerating soil and consuming ‘pests’ that can become hazardous to humans. They are a critical part of the food chain, from aiding in pollination to being eaten by larger predators.
The behaviour of ants has been observed to have a great effect on plants, both beneficial and harmful. On one hand, ants provide plants with food, building materials, and protection from predators. On the other hand, some species of ants, such as the argentine ant, are known to cause significant damage to crops.
Ants also have a major impact on human-made structures and activity. For example, they can cause severe damage to buildings by gnawing on timber and masonry, as well as contaminate food supplies as they search for food.
Seeing all this, it’s not surprising that ants have long been part of folklore, literature, and art – inspiring many cultures, stories and mythology. Recently, scientists have also begun to explore ant-inspired robot technology, taking the idea of collective intelligence in organic systems and the complex behaviours they can produce and applying it to create more efficient robotics.
Ants as Biotech Models
Due to their ability to coordinate, cooperate and rapidly evolve, ants are also seen as important models for biotechnology research, especially in relation to ‘swarm intelligence’ and artificial intelligence. This has led to a greater understanding of how cooperative behaviour and decision making works within complex living systems.
The insights gained from studying ants can then be applied to other fields, such as logistics, computer science and robotics. For example, engineers are using swarming principles to develop revolutionary systems such as adaptive sensors, robotic swarms and self-healing structures. Such systems have the potential to revolutionise our lives, from being able to self-diagnose and repair a wide range of issues to performing complex tasks in dangerous environments.
Furthermore, studying ants has opened up the possibility of creating ‘micro factories’ where groups of ants effectively become tiny robots that can coordinate and collaborate with each other to manufacture products far more efficiently than humans.
In summary, the million of ants on this planet have a far greater impact than one might first expect. From providing valuable insight into robotics and biotechnologies to featuring prominently in literature, art and folklore, ants are here to stay for the long haul.
Ants Social Behaviour
Though individual ants appear to be simple creatures, their social behaviour is incredibly complex and sophisticated. Each ant belongs to a colony with a rigid hierarchy, with each individual taking on specific roles that benefit the whole.
For example, worker ants, the most common type of ant, are responsible for tasks such as foraging, nest building and defending the nest, while queen ants are responsible for reproduction.
Ants are also capable of communication with each other, using chemical signals such as pheromones or vibrations. Through these pheromones, ants can orientate themselves within their environment, as well as warn each other of threats or attract other ants to food sources.
Furthermore, ants display some sophisticated problem-solving and mathematical abilities. Studies have shown that they can remember and compare numerous spatial relationships to determine the most efficient routes, and are capable of counting up to four.
Ants are also capable of learning and can be trained to repeat complex behaviours. One study even showed that ants could be trained to distinguish between two different colours and act accordingly.
The amazing communication and problem-solving skills displayed by ants are further underlined by the way they live together and coordinate to accomplish elaborate tasks. This, combined with their sheer numbers, has made them a dominant and successful insect species.
Ants Function in The Environment
The environment benefits greatly from the presence of ants, as they help to perform numerous valuable functions. For instance, their tunneling helps with aeration, which encourages the growth of larger, healthier plants. Likewise, their nests help to retain moisture in dry soils and prevent soil erosion.
Ants are also important for the survival of other organisms. They help to control the population size of many species by preying on them, using them as food sources for their colonies, disturbing their habitats or competing for resources. In return, these organisms benefit from the presence of ants, as they provide food, shelter and assistance in finding resources.
In addition, ants can be beneficial to humans by controlling insect and rodent populations that can become hazardous. As such, they can help to protect crops and even the livestock found on many farms.
Finally, ants play a vital role in spreading the seeds of many plants, which helps to promote diversity and aid in the recovery of damaged ecosystems.
The Future of Ants
Though ants have been around for millions of years and are an essential part of the ecosystem, their future is being threatened by human activity such as deforestation, habitat destruction, the expansion of cities and the use of agrochemicals. As we continue to degrade the environment, the numbers and diversity of ant species are projected to decline, alongside many other species.
In order to help protect them, numerous conservation efforts such as habitat reclamation projects and agroecological practices are being developed. In addition, more research into their complex behaviour is being done, in order to gain a greater understanding of how we can best live with ants and how their presence can benefit us.
One way for individuals to participate in this effort is to reduce their carbon footprint, by reducing the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals, by conserving energy and water, and by signing up to pro-environmental initiatives.
Ant Culture
Over the years, ant culture has become an increasingly popular topic, as it holds much fascinating information on the behaviour of these complex creatures. Ant enthusiasts take up many hobbies such as ant keeping, photography and even teaching other people about ants.
Furthermore, scientists have been able to explore the ant-human relationship, through the lens of citizen science – the idea of the public contributing to further scientific research by providing data and insights.
For example, online databases such as Ant Map allow people to visualise the distribution of ant species across the world and record their own observations. Other sites, such as the GBIF, enable people to examine ant species genetics and evolution. In addition, citizen science projects allow individuals to observe and monitor local ant populations, providing invaluable data on these populations.
Cultural events, such as the International Myrmecological Society’s Annual Congress, also exist to celebrate and promote the field of ant research. Local and online ant clubs have also been set up, with members sharing tips, photos and experiences.
Ant Superpowers
Ants possess some remarkable abilities, far surpassing those of many of their larger kin. For example, when danger strikes, some species are capable of swiftly changing the direction of their movement, or even jumping back, in order to avoid danger. In addition, some ant species, such as the carpenter ant, have the ability to cut, shape and excavate materials in order to build their homes and nests.
Another remarkable trait among some species of ant is their ability to form ‘rafts’ to cross water bodies. For example, when facing rising water levels, driver ants will form chains of interlocking bodies and float across the water, allowing their colonies to continue on the move.
Furthermore, some species of ant can even navigate using only the sun for orientation. They achieve this by using two photoreceptors on the head and changing water production in their antennae.
Overall, ants truly are remarkable creatures, with many useful and unknown abilities that can be applied to benefit us all.
