The ant is one of the most commonly found insects on the planet. In total, there are more than 12 thousand species of these tiny creatures. They always attract with their hard work, organization and even intelligence. Each has its own special features and differs in color, body structure and many other parts. Ants are very strong and can travel long distances. Let's figure out how many legs an ant has and what their main purpose is.
Ant: what is a forest insect?
The image of an ant in the human mind has been fixed since childhood: a head, a belly and a butt, connected to each other by flexible ligaments. The entire body of the insect is covered with a thick chitinous layer .
In ants it is one of the most durable in nature. Some tropical species can withstand the bite of a spider (also tropical). Our forest dwellers cannot boast of such strength, but in battles with their relatives the shell saves them, and not bad.
How many legs does an ant have?
The picture is completed by six flexible legs . They are very strong, but the loss of the hind pair of legs will not allow the insect to move fully; the loss of the front ones can completely immobilize the insect.
Functions of the legs
As mentioned earlier, any ant has six legs, which in turn perform various functions and are equipped with spurs.
Due to their special structure, ant paws have certain abilities that these insects use not only for movement, but also during battles with other insects. Also, thanks to their special limbs, ants move perfectly on completely different planes, and there are practically no obstacles for them.
Ants can calmly move not only on various surfaces, but also perform various maneuvers, as well as cling to any objects. It is as a result of the presence of such limbs that many ants can swim quite well. This is especially true for bulldog ants, since these insects are considered one of the most unique.
Ants can calmly move on various surfaces and make the necessary maneuvers
Among other things, it is thanks to their eight limbs that ants can perform completely different jobs. The legs of this insect are very strong and the fact that the ant carries objects quite heavy for its weight can be explained from the physiological point of view. This is explained, first of all, by the fact that the cross-section of muscles with a decrease in body size is measured proportionally. That is why these very small insects are able to carry objects that weigh much more than the insect itself.
Note! Due to the fact that the ant’s limbs are quite developed, these insects can not only defend themselves, but also swim across puddles and also jump.
As evidenced by long-term observations of ants, these insects, thanks to their legs, can perform many different jobs, which include carrying food, as well as objects that, in their weight category, significantly exceed the insect’s own weight.
The ant's limbs are also necessary for it as navigational material. This is reflected primarily in the fact that the ant perfectly remembers the number of steps that the insect has taken after a particular turn. This memorization of nuances helps the ant always flawlessly find the way back to its home.
The speed of an ant is in its limbs
An ant has three pairs of legs, so it is not difficult to count how many legs it has. Another feature of the limbs is that all pairs have certain sizes, proportions, and also that they are all located on separate parts of the chest.
As for the front pair of legs, they are located on the front of the chest and are distinguished by special devices, which in appearance are more reminiscent of miniature brushes with which the insect cleans its other legs, as well as its mustache. The rear pair is equipped with spurs, which, as in the first case, perform their specific functions.
One characteristic of ants' feet is that they have an odor.
Thanks to the small notches that are present on the paws of ants, they can not only easily climb various surfaces, clinging to ledges, but also develop quite good speed. Some varieties of these insects are capable of speeds of about four km/hour.
I would also like to note that ants swim quite well, especially for varieties such as bulldogs. These insects are able to swim across a body of water up to fifteen meters away.
Another feature of ants' feet is that they have a smell. This has been discovered through numerous scientific studies. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the limbs of these insects secrete pheromones, which are used to leave peculiar marks during movement.
How much does an ant weigh
The black forest ants familiar to us cannot boast of a large body mass. They reach a maximum of 10 milligrams, and on average weigh 6-8 mg . Moreover, the age of the insect does not matter much - after pupation the insect stops growing (there are exceptions).
How much it eats doesn’t matter either. By the way, the sense of smell helps ants get food . In some species it is more powerful than in dogs. The vision is a little let down - the insect has a lot of eyes , but they don’t give a clear picture. The world is blurry for forest dwellers.
How ants stay on steep surfaces
Surfaces of almost any degree of smoothness and verticality are not an obstacle for ants. The smaller the ant, the smoother the surface it can run on. For example, the pharaoh's house ant calmly moves across glass, which, for example, a black cockroach cannot do.
In such acrobatic tricks, ants are helped by tiny barbs on their paws, with which they can quite successfully cling to protrusions that are visible only through a microscope. Of course, tree trunks and stone surfaces in nature are like convenient stairs for them.
Some ants from the family of chaise beetles can run at a speed of about 4 km/h, being one of the fastest running insects in general (today the running record is registered for jumping beetles and Madagascar cockroaches). Paws are the only salvation of these ants, which live in some of the most extreme biotopes in the world in general - in the sandy and clayey deserts of Africa, Asia and America. These ants can withstand air temperatures up to 50°C, but if in such conditions the ant lingers in the sun and does not reach the anthill in time, it will simply fry.
In addition, thanks to their legs, some ants can swim. This, for example, distinguishes Australian bulldog ants, insects that are unique in many of their qualities. They are able to easily swim across water obstacles 15 cm wide (for example, small puddles).
Bulldog ants can also make large jumps - up to 50 cm in length. Only they do this not with the help of their paws, but by pushing off the ground with their jaws.
Why does an ant have 468 legs and the characteristics of these insects
Of course, the statement that an ant has 468 legs is completely unfounded. All varieties of ants have a constant number of limbs, which is six pieces, divided into pairs.
Ants are considered unique insects and, compared to other arthropods, have the following features:
- The sizes of these insects vary from one millimeter to five centimeters. Females are larger in size and also have wings, which they chew off after the mating season. The color of these insects can be completely different.
- Ants do not have clear vision, but they can clearly distinguish movement.
- The antennae of ants have a segmental structure and perform the functions of organs of touch. It is through them that insects sense air currents, smells and vibration.
- It is by smell that ants find food, send signals for help and make various requests.
- In nature, ants use mandibles, which are very powerful, and acid for protection.
For the most part, ants are considered not dangerous insects for humans, but still in nature there are varieties that can not only have a negative impact on human health, but also cause death. Therefore, it is very important to know about such individuals, especially for those people who travel around the country and the world.
What does it look like
The appearance of individual ants depends on the caste and species.
For example, this is what representatives of some groups look like:
- Pharaonic. The length of the body of a representative of the working caste is no more than two millimeters, the color of the abdomen varies depending on age and can be reddish, brown or yellow. Females and males are distinguished by their larger sizes - about four millimeters and black body color.
- Red forest ones. Today, the number of this group has decreased significantly, which is due to a reduction in forest resources. Red forest ants are relatively large in size, ten to twelve millimeters. They are characterized by a red color on the abdomen and black on the chest.
- Black. Distributed throughout the country, they are classified as agricultural pests, which is due to the specific nature of their habitat and life activity. The body size is five millimeters, the body color is brown or black.
- Myrmica red. The habitat covers the territories of Siberia and the Urals. Ants of this group settle near agricultural lands, which is due to the characteristic features of their life activity - they consider insect pests, for example, aphids, as food sources. Body length varies from five to seven millimeters. Color depends on gender, females are red, males are black.
- Blood red. This group of arthropods is reddish in color and medium in size - about eight to ten millimeters in length. A distinctive feature is the specificity of life activity. Anthills raid the anthills of other colonies, capturing larvae and eggs. Further, the individuals obtained in this way are used as workers - slaves.
The external features of arthropods also depend on caste . For example, guards or predators have powerful jaws, with which the ant defends its own home or raids representatives of other colonies.
Workers are small in size and have a short life expectancy. The uteri are extremely large in size, significantly exceeding the size of representatives of other castes. The life expectancy of female queens is also much longer than that of their relatives.
What else do ants need paws for?
Ants need legs not only as a working tool, but also for movement. Individuals use their paws to transmit scent signals . On ant limbs there are glands that secrete pheromones with a strong aroma. While moving, insects leave marks using glands on various objects. Other individuals will immediately notice such a trail and will be able to easily detect it. A large number of ants, running along such paths, leave many traces, they become attractive to other ants. Over time, the trails turn into comfortable routes along which insects run comfortably and quickly. Sometimes ants make mistakes and can run in circles because leaving a fresh mark closes the circle. As a result , the insect runs in a circle and very often it happens that the number of ants running in a circle reaches several hundred. In everyday life, such circles can become a real disaster for a family.
Many people have long known how many legs an ant has. These small and multifunctional limbs help ants work and create real miracles with their help.
Types of ants
Each ant colony has different castes of ants, each with a specific role.
The most common caste type in any ant colony will be the worker caste. As the name suggests, the worker's primary role is to care for the queen and brood, forage for food, build and protect the nest, and other labor-intensive tasks. Worker ants do not reproduce, although they sometimes lay eggs. They are unsterilized, so they are only available to develop into drones, which are of no use to the colony, so eggs laid by workers are usually used as brood food.
The soldier caste is not present in all ant species, and they tend to have an extended worker form. Soldiers tend to be tougher than standard workers and have large heads with strong mandibles. The main job of a soldier is to protect the nest, but they can perform other tasks as well.
The most common caste type in any ant colony will be the worker caste
Male ants, also known as drones, are often smaller than all other castes, although this is not true of all species. These ants have a wasp-like appearance, and have small heads and thin bodies compared to other ants. All males have wings and their sole purpose in life is to impregnate the virgin queen during the mating flight. Once they have completed this task, they will die within a few days. Eggs left infertile by the queen produce males.
How long does he live?
The lifespan of ants in nature is determined, first of all, by species. How long an ant lives depends on what species the individual belongs to
.
Eg:
- Pharaoh ants. Insects belonging to this species are heat-loving and adapted to living only in human housing. The lifespan of queens of this species is nine months, workers - no more than two.
- Garden black ants. These insects prefer to settle in close proximity to human habitation, often in private homes. The lifespan of representatives of this species is three years, but in fact - no more than one year.
- Forest and meadow. These ants, as the name suggests, live in forests and meadows. Life expectancy is no more than five years, but due to natural factors such as predators and birds, the given periods can be significantly reduced. The life span of queens is longer than that of ants of other castes, since they are protected from external enemies.
- Tropical ants. These insects are called the longest-livers among all species. The queens of this group live more than twenty years, while the workers live about five to seven.
The lifespan of ants is directly determined by the action of external factors, which include enemies, predators, birds, as well as diseases and natural disasters.
Structure
The structure of an ant can be characterized as a rigid frame, the functionality of which is to bind the insides of the ant. It is protected from external factors by a durable exoskeleton, often called the cuticle. The structure of the ant's body involves division into three main parts: stomach, chest, head.
The insect's stomach contains the digestive system, as well as organs that act as weapons of chemical defense. Representatives of certain groups are armed with poisonous stings. The muscles that provide mobility and strength to the legs are concentrated in the chest.
The ant's head is devoid of hearing and smell. It contains only sensitive antennae, which allow the individual to navigate in space, recognize objects, as well as complex eyes. Most species have extremely poor vision.
The length of an ant's body depends on the species of the ant. The length of the smallest ones, for example, pharaonic ones, is no more than two millimeters. There are also giant representatives of the species, the length of their abdomen often reaches three centimeters.
Difference between an ant and a spider
Ants are considered one of the most common insects. Their breeding into an independent family happened quite a long time ago. Information about the first individuals can be traced back to the time of dinosaurs.
The main characteristics of an ant as an insect are the following:
- colonial social way of life;
- presence of caste;
- metapleural gland;
- reduced veins on wings;
- a narrow stalk connecting the chest with the abdomen;
- upper jaws, which have a serrated chewing edge;
- absence of individual cells in larvae.
Almost all varieties of ants prefer to live in anthill nests, which they dig themselves in completely different places, such as the ground, under stones, in tree trunks, and also equip them directly in human housing.
Ants are considered one of the most common insects
The average lifespan of this insect is about four years, but the exact period depends entirely on many factors. There are cases when situations were observed. That ants can live for about six years.
The structure of the first ants was very primitive compared to those insects that can be found today. The main difference between ants and other arthropods is that an ant has only six legs, while for example, a spider has eight. Therefore, spiders, although they belong to arthropods, are classified into a separate family called arachnids.
Everyone, even schoolchildren, should know such basic differences in insects. Unfortunately, at the moment, although schoolchildren see ants every day, not all of them are ready to answer the question of how many legs certain insects have. For example, such an elementary and well-known problem that ants and spiders have 468 legs very often remains unsolved and is vigorously discussed by users on the Internet of various ages.
The answer to the question from the scientific side
Scientific facts will help you accurately answer the question of how many legs an ant has. The represented species of individuals is a large class, the name of which is insects. Their main exclusive feature is the presence of 6 legs, the same applies to ants - they also have 3 standard pairs of legs.
It is worth taking into account that it is the number of limbs of fauna representatives that distinguishes arthropods from ticks and spiders. A tick has 8 legs, and a spider has 16.
Let's look at another question - is it possible that an ant will have fewer legs? According to scientists, they cannot give a negative answer, since in fact this option is quite real.
This can be explained by the fact that such pests have a predatory lifestyle and often enter into a fight with other types of insects, in which there is a risk of losing their running legs. Only such cases can cause the absence of pairs of paws in an arthropod.
Does an ant have blood?
No, insects, of course, have a semblance of blood, but if you crush it, you won’t see anything red. Hemolymph flows through their bodies - a transparent liquid that provides nutrition to vital systems.
The loss of the “life-giving” substance leads to the death of the insect, but given its viscosity, a strong outflow is hardly possible; for this, the body must be severely damaged, actually tearing it apart.
Ant colonies are separate worlds . It’s not for nothing that we compared them to aliens at the beginning of the article. These amazing insects have their own laws of sociality , which are incomprehensible and alien to human society. However, insects have been living according to them for millions of years, and they are happy with everything. Maybe they actually came to us from distant planets, and are now watching us, waiting for their finest hour?
Ant protection
Aneuretus simoni
Although most ant species are resistant to many attempts by humans to kill them, some species are in danger of declining in numbers or becoming extinct. These are mostly island species that have evolved specialized traits, including Aneuretus simoni from Sri Lanka and Adetomyrma from Madagascar. There are 149 ant species listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The eastern liometopum is included in the Red Book of Russia (category 2, a declining species).
By 2009, in 15 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, 30 species of ants were included in the regional Red Data Books (or in the relevant regulations on the protection of rare and endangered species of organisms). In some European countries, the nests of red wood ants are protected and settled. Since 1971, the All-Russian Operation Ant was carried out in the RSFSR to map, protect and resettle beneficial species of forest ants of the genus Formica. In Russia, the destruction (ruin) of anthills is an administrative offense, for which a fine of 300 to 500 rubles or a warning is provided.
What are the distinctive features of the structure of an ant's legs?
For a more detailed look at the body structure of small hardworking strongmen, you can look at the photos and diagrams below; if you wish, this can be done in reality by anyone.
If we talk about the most common forest and garden species of ants in our country, they are of sufficient size so that the structure of the legs can be examined without the use of special magnifying devices.
An interesting fact is that the legs of this pest are very strong, so much so that they are capable of carrying a load that will exceed the weight of their own body by 2 dozen times.
Each of the three pairs of ant legs is attached to the middle part of the body - the presented segment is scientifically called a mesosome. The first pair of legs (the legs are distinguished by the presence of very small and thin outgrowths) of the arthropod are located near the front of the chest, they are directed forward, thanks to them the insect takes care of itself - it puts itself in order, cleans the antennae (they, by the way, are part of the body , which helps them catch the smell of food and enemies).
The remaining pairs of legs are attached to the lower part of the chest, but their direction is already backward, downward. The main purpose of these legs is accelerated movement, support, in addition, they act as a means used in the fight against enemies.
Some types of ants differ in the structure of their paws, allowing them to jump to fairly high heights and swim.
Arthropods achieve maximum crawling speed on various surfaces due to the presence of serrations on each of the legs. With their help, pests can quickly and easily overcome almost any material that has at least minimal roughness on the surface.
The only exceptions for small workers are vertical smooth surfaces, for example, glass. By the way, many owners of apartments, summer cottages and country houses use this feature as an effective technique to combat these arthropods.
The structure of an insect and its legs
Ants belong to the category of insects of the superfamily Antidae and the order Hymenoptera. These social insects are divided into 3 castes:
- females;
- males;
- working individuals.
Females and males differ in structure, they have wings, while workers do not have wings. The very first individuals began their existence back in the days of dinosaurs. Ants then had a primitive structure. Millions of years have passed since then, and today two species of ants have survived. Despite changes in structure, the insect has only 6 legs. These creatures differ from their other distant relatives in the number of paws:
- spiders;
- flares;
- crustaceans.
How many legs do ants have? This question is easy to answer. You can easily count the number of legs . The limbs are clearly visible and distinguishable when the individual is already an adult. Each pair of legs is located on a separate part of the chest. Ant legs are extremely strong, consisting of three joints. The upper part of the leg is called the thigh, the middle part is the shin, and the lowest part is the tarsus. The middle and upper parts are connected by a spur. The limbs have different sizes, as well as proportions, it all depends on the type of insect. In general, they have the same paw placement. The front paws are located in front of the chest. These paws have a special device in the form of a small brush. With their help, the insect takes care of its other legs and antennae.
Nutrition, reproduction
Most often, nests are built in the soil, but they can also be seen in wood or under stones. Ants feed mainly on plant sap or the honeydew of sucking insects. Some species eat seeds and mushrooms. The basis of the diet is proteins and carbohydrates. Protein is consumed by larvae, and carbohydrates by adult insects.
These are universal predators. They hunt invertebrate insects or gnaw their corpses. Any food in the anthill is distributed among all members of the family.
Young individuals go through the following stages of development:
- egg;
- larva;
- chrysalis;
- imago is an adult insect.
A worm-like, sedentary larva hatches from the egg, and workers begin to care for it. With the onset of the pupation phase, the larva stops feeding, but while it is still eating food, it can develop into a queen or worker. Nutrition determines everything.
In the larval and pupal stages, ants live in a separate place where a constant temperature is maintained. Working individuals help the imago free itself from the pupa, since the young individual is not able to leave it on its own.
Lifestyle
The lifestyle of ants also varies according to species and caste.
The following features of the life of these tiny insects can be distinguished::
- Nutrition. The food preferences of individual species can vary significantly. Most arthropods feed on plant and animal foods. For growth and development, ants need protein, which they get by eating insects and atrophic eggs. Those living on the territory of a person’s home or in its immediate vicinity consume traditional food products and food waste.
Arthropods also need carbohydrates, which they consume through a sweet liquid secreted by aphids, dew containing plant sugars. Individual colonies grow mushroom plantations on the territory of anthills.
Most ants living in areas with moderate or severe climatic conditions make abundant reserves for the cold period, which consist of insects, grains, roots
Separately, we need to consider how ants live on the territory of the colony, that is, the anthill.
There is a clear hierarchy according to which individual members of the castes perform the following duties:
- Reapers. Their duties include collecting plant materials such as grains.
- Gravediggers. As the name suggests, the duties of these workers include the delivery of deceased brothers to the conditions of special chambers of the anthill.
- Engineers, builders. These insects not only build housing, but also arrange it.
- Soldiers. Soldiers protect housing from attacks by other insects or other natural enemies.
- Doctors. They are engaged in the treatment of relatives.
- Nurses. The responsibilities of these insects include looking after larvae and eggs. In case of danger, it is these workers who quickly deliver the larvae to safe places.
However, not all arthropods live in large colonies. There are some arthropods that live in relatively small groups.
Pedipalps and antennae
In addition to walking limbs, spiders have clearly visible pedipalps; they are located in front of the front pair of legs. Sometimes they look almost like another pair of legs, and are even capable of participating in locomotion, but are more used as part of the oral apparatus, helping in the capture and placement of food in the mouth.
But even if you mistakenly count the pedipalps as an additional pair of legs, then based on the total number of legs, the arachnid still cannot be confused with an insect. But by looking at an ant, you can inadvertently attribute the antennae that are on its head to its limbs, and mistake the insect for a tick or spider.
The antennae of ants have a special structure - they are geniculate, seemingly bent in the middle, with the tips pointing downwards. The antennae are located next to the eyes, are much thinner than the legs and are very mobile. They perform the function of tactile, tactile organs, serve for orientation in space, perception of smells and exchange of information with other ants.
If you encounter any insects or arachnids at home or in nature, you should be careful. Especially if species identification is difficult in some way. If any of these creatures are found on the body or clothing, it must be carefully brushed off or blown off without pressing with your hands or slamming it on the skin.
Insect or not
You can determine whether an ant belongs to animals or insects by certain external signs. The presence of chitinous cover, six pairs of legs, as well as other structural features of the body classifies them as insects and arthropods.
Classification of ants is somewhat difficult , since there are a lot of hybrids, as well as species of lookalikes. However, scientists have identified about twenty subfamilies of the ant family, many individual species and subspecies.
Where do ants spend the winter?
in winter
ants don't sleep
, as it may seem to some observers. Their activity remains all year round, although during the cold season they do not appear on the surface of the earth. Almost all of the ant’s labor activity is aimed at preparing for wintering.
Since spring
, they constantly replenish food supplies
. If this is not done, the colony will be doomed to extinction - in the conditions of fallen snow, these insects are not able to obtain food for themselves.
All stocks
are located in the lower chambers of the anthill
, there are ants there after the arrival of winter. The fact is that the deeper you go into the ground, the warmer the conditions will be, and sharp temperature fluctuations can be avoided. An ant's diet depends on its species.
Duration
wintering depends on the place of residence of the colony.
In the polar regions you have to stay underground for 7-8 months, and in the south 2-4. If we take it further south, for example, Turkey, then ants will not overwinter every season. It all depends on the severity of each particular winter.
If the ants don't do a good job
, then in winter the family may be overtaken by hunger
.
In such a situation, all insects will rush to save the queen
, giving her all the supplies. This is a kind of law of survivability in the wild.
Where does the ant live?
Ants live almost all over the planet. As an exception, only certain zones can be cited, for example, Antarctica and Antarctica, as well as a number of some islands. Insects living in harsh climatic zones hibernate, thus waiting out long winters.
Most species live in anthills located in rotten stumps, soil, and trunks of old trees. Some live close to human habitation or directly in houses or apartments. There are certain species that parasitize other people's anthills or take over nests built by representatives of other groups.
Arthropods living in apartments and agricultural land are considered pests.
Due to the speed of reproduction and the threat of damage to fruit trees and shrubs, farmers, as well as owners of private territories, are forced to wage a constant fight against insects, which involves the use of chemical or natural insecticides.
Ant wintering
What do you think ants do in winter? Sleeping - many will answer. No, you're wrong. Their life continues to boil. A few species enter a state of diapause, when the internal organs of insects reduce their work, but do not completely stop it.
Many materials behave like a solid when it is stressed by forces moving at certain speeds, and a liquid when the stress slows down. Water, for example, behaves like a liquid when you insert your hand into it, but a solid when hit by a human body jumping off a dive board—the reason why your stomach hurts so much.
Researchers have discovered that the ants' structures are a combination of solid and liquid substances when they are amplified by forces at all speeds. They actively deform their structure to adapt to stress, but then return to their original position. Check out what happens when one of their structures is squeezed by a Petri dish, for example.
Ants spend the winter months in the same anthills in which they are active. And to prevent frosty air from penetrating inside, insects carefully seal the entrances with dry leaves. Sometimes they are lowered into the lower “compartment” of the nest, where a warmer temperature is maintained.
During wintering, ants are inactive and do not feed as often. But if there are larvae in the nest, then the adults remain fully active and feed the offspring. In addition, due to temperature fluctuations, the upper layers of the anthill periodically get wet and the ants are constantly forced to transfer food supplies to dry compartments.
“It makes sense based on their natural environment,” Hu says. “If they're floating on a raft on a river, they can't control where it floats, so if there's something like that—let's say a branch—you see a reaction and flow around the branch, kind of like an amoeba.”
The tenacity and buoyancy of ants is also remarkable. When researchers tried to push floating rafts below the surface of the water, they found that they could resist significant forces and float back. This is, in particular, provided by the exoskeletons of ants, which are naturally hydrophobic. When many ants come together to form a structure, water does not penetrate into the spaces between them, so when they are forced underwater, the air that remains in these cavities helps them float.
The anthill seems dead in winter, but the same vibrant life boils there as in the warm season
On a note! Under harsh climatic conditions, for example, in northern regions, ants are able to tolerate especially low temperatures. Thus, the body temperature of -58°C was recorded in larvae wintering in Kolyma. This figure is the lowest for insects in general.
Perhaps the biggest mystery about these ants' remarkable living structures is how the creatures communicate to build them. Microscopic examination shows that the ants grasp each other using both their jaws and the small claws at the end of their legs.
Noting this, Hu adds: "We think they were communicating, but we don't understand it yet." The ant grabs the leg of a neighboring ant in its jaws. Ant fire is depressingly persistent. Colonies of aggressive, poisonous insects can survive floods, fires and pesticides. Now researchers have uncovered the mechanisms behind one of the world's most sophisticated survival techniques: rafts made of thousands of ants tied together that repel water and sometimes float for months at a time.
Some species of ants that do not have diapause are forced to remain active throughout the winter. To survive, they stock up on food during the autumn months, which should be enough until the thaw. At this time, the workforce is repairing the nest and trying to maintain the microclimate.
The larvae of these types of ants require protein food to grow, which is impossible to obtain in winter conditions. Before the arrival of cold weather, they develop to the state of adults and then go to winter. And with the onset of spring, when access to protein food opens, the queen begins to produce new offspring.
The results could eventually help engineers develop self-sealing lifeboats and new waterproof materials. Fire ants are native to South America, but they have invaded large parts of the American South. Ants swarm over other insects, worms and rodents. After a few hours, they can cut small animal bones down to the bone. If floodwaters inundate a colony, a common occurrence in the Brazilian rainforest where the insect is developing, individual ants attach themselves to their bodies to form a raft that carries them safely to new areas.
What do ants eat?
The food of ants is varied and depends on the species. The diet of most species consists of plant and animal foods, and each individual eats several times a day.
The source of protein necessary for the growth and development of ant larvae in nature are dead insects, animal remains, trophic eggs laid by the queen when there is an excess of food, eggs of pests and semi-digested food of adult ants. House ant larvae feed on dairy products, gelatin and leftover egg dishes. The diet of the ant queen also consists of protein food, which is specially chewed by the ants caring for her.
The basis of the carbohydrate menu of most ants is honeydew (sugar-containing leaf juices secreted during temperature changes) and honeydew - the sweet secretions of insects, especially aphids. Dairy farmer ants raise aphids for themselves, graze them, nurse them, and protect their offspring from other ants. These shepherds milk their pets and feed on their milk.
Additional components of ants' food in nature can be seeds and roots of plants, nuts, and tree sap. Some ants raise colonies of fungi in anthills as food, and also feed on caterpillars and insects.
Reaper ants consume dry plant seeds, dry fruits and grain crops. They are able to store 1 kg of raw materials, which makes it possible to feed an entire colony of ants in winter. Leaf-cutter ants bring pieces of leaves to the anthill, chew them and store them in a kind of greenhouse chambers. Over time, mushrooms grow from these pieces in the storage, which are the main food for these gourmet ants. Centromyrmex ants feed exclusively on termites. The Dracula ant drinks the juices secreted by its own larvae, and feeds the larvae with various insects. House ants are omnivores.
In winter, when it gets significantly colder, the ants hibernate, during which they starve. Most species, however, lead an active lifestyle in winter in a sealed anthill, feeding on abundant supplies.
The difference between an ant and a spider and a tick
Spiders and mites belong to the class of arachnids, and ants belong to the class of insects. To distinguish them, it is enough to count the legs: all arachnids have 8 of them, that is, 4 pairs. Of course, the body shape of these animals also differs, but if they are small in size, it is not always possible to immediately see this.
Some pairs of legs in spiders differ in size and structure from other walking limbs. This is explained by their way of life: when hunting, spiders often use the limbs of the first and second pairs to capture prey and palpate the surface, and with their hind legs they hold onto a support (web, ground). But, despite external differences, the total number of legs is always constant in any species of spider.
In some ticks, the legs of the first pair are longer than the others, and the legs of the second pair, on the contrary, are shorter than all the others. And since the forelimbs are close to the head, they can be mistaken for antennae. With these legs, a blood-sucking tick clings to the body of a potential victim.
If there are doubts about the identification of an individual, then it is necessary to pay attention to the structure of the body - the segments of the ant and the spider are clearly visible, and the mite is almost drop-shaped, its head is small, and its body is wide, flattened, fused. Having drunk blood, the tick enlarges several times and becomes barrel-shaped.
The situation is much more complicated with the larvae of some types of ticks, since they, unlike adults (adult ticks), can have only 6, rather than 8, legs. At the same time, they also feed on the blood of animals and humans, and just like adult ticks, they are capable of infecting many dangerous diseases through their bite. But the body structure of larvae and adult ticks is very similar, and this is what you need to pay attention to.
Another distinctive and striking sign of ticks is slowness. Thanks to their comfortable legs, ants are able to run very quickly, spiders are also good runners, but ticks move slowly, crawling only a few centimeters per minute.
Ant development stage
Insects
do not give
birth to live young .
Ants have gone even further than some of their other relatives in the kingdom - their development stages
include as many as
4 stages
.
Uterus,
fertilized in an anthill, flies out into the wild in search of a new place of residence.
After finding a suitable territory, she lays several hundred eggs
, after which
she chews off
her own
wings. The eggs
lie in a neat pile
for 15-20 days
(depending on humidity and heat), after which
the larvae hatch from them.
Larvae
these are very small,
look like worms
.
They
are not yet able
to work ,
but they love to eat
.
They need it for rapid growth. After a couple of weeks, the larvae become pupae.
They weave them on their own, leaving a small hole for the removal of waste products.
The future ant remains in this state for about 5-6 weeks.
an adult
is born . She is ready for independent life, and from birth she “knows” her role in ant society.
Reference.
Ants cannot always get out of the cocoon on their own after pupation. In such a situation, relatives come to the rescue.
Water bugs
All aquatic insects are of interest from the point of view of the structure of their limbs. They demonstrate a completely different, but also unique adaptation. Science has asked how they can float on the surface of the water and not drown? It turned out that the water beetle has a kind of oar on its hind legs. Special hairs have grown on them, with which the insect makes rowing movements. This is how it floats on water. Some species are equipped with thickened and widened segments (this is the last section of the leg). Thanks to this structure, they can float perfectly on the water. Although these insects prefer to live in calm waters. It is difficult for them to fight against strong currents. The little creature does not have enough strength for this.
The role of ants in nature
useless living creatures in nature . None at all. Ants bring benefits than many of the larger animals. Part of this enormous benefit can be realized due to the fact that the density of ants is approximately 17-20% of the total mass of all insects on our planet. So, here are the main benefits of six-legged insects for the forest .
- Orderlies. Anthills are “based” in fallen leaves and tree bark. The activity of insects greatly accelerates the decomposition process, which reduces the number of harmful bacteria and small parasites that can cause harm to other forest inhabitants.
- Once again, orderlies . Ants are predators . Violent and omnivorous. A large colony of insects can kill a bird of decent size. By destroying small pests, ants make it possible for a large number of plants to develop, and at the same time make the existence of larger living creatures easier. Interestingly, ants destroy about 20 times more other insects than birds!
- Pollinators. Hard workers do not disdain plant seeds. But on the way to the anthill, some of them are lost. As a result, new plants grow along the ants' routes. In terms of efficiency, they, of course, cannot compare with bees, but they perform their role well.
- Leavening agents. An anthill is a collection of a huge number of tunnels underground. The loosening of the soil reaches such proportions that even some exotic plants can grow in the area of the ant’s home.
- A source of vitamins or “natural medicine” in action . Although ants are predators, they often become prey themselves, mostly of birds. These insects are so nutritious that the average bird could, in theory, eat only them. In addition, formic acid acts as a septic tank. By pushing ants under their feathers, birds get rid of parasites.
Now do you understand why the destruction of anthills is prohibited by law ? If there are suddenly no more ants, or at least their concentration decreases, then the world will never be the same.
What can an ant be confused with?
The fact is that in the world of small animals mimicry is very developed. This art of camouflage can be manifested in the following ways:
- Someone needs to stand out from the crowd and warn everyone that they are dangerous. This is exactly what wasps, bees, bumblebees and other poisonous insects do.
- Some people need to blend in with their surroundings. Almost all butterflies do this - some look like a bright flower, others like tree bark.
- Someone, without any advantages, decided to fake something dangerous. Some butterflies and caterpillars have false eyes and even a head. There are flies that are colored like a wasp. Among these scammers are arthropods posing as ants. Why do they need this? Firstly, they are afraid to deal with ants, because these insects attack the offender as a whole. Secondly, if you settle in an anthill under the guise of an ant, you will be guaranteed protection and food.
It is this kind of mimicry that some beetles, flies and even arachnids resort to. And the ants themselves are not very strong in the art of camouflage. Their bodies are always colored the color of the earth.
Knowing the number of legs of an insect is also necessary in order to identify whether it is dangerous or not. Ants are not dangerous to humans, unless, of course, you plan to sleep on an anthill. They cause unpleasant troubles to a person only in the home. It is often impossible to reach an agreement here.
In the forest, ticks can be a real danger. It is very easy to distinguish them from ants and other insects - mites, like all arachnids, have 8 legs, and ants have 6.
It is almost impossible to confuse an ant with a spider, but just in case, count the number of legs.
Bee
Everyone knows this hard work. It flies, pollinates flowers, collects honey... How many pairs of legs does an insect have, and are all of its limbs like this? It turns out that the bee has special baskets on its forelimbs into which it places pollen. On the very last segment, the tarsus, there are fibers called brushes.
With them the bee collects a valuable product. If you look closely, it turns out that the front pair are almost arms with a very complex structure. But scientists do not recognize this fact. These limbs belong to the legs and are called collective limbs. Let's count the number of walking legs in bee insects.
Features
People who have little understanding of biology confuse ants with spiders or mites. Insects can be distinguished by the number of legs: ticks have eight. The only arthropods in our fauna are ants, spiders and mites. However, some beetles are able to imitate the shape of an ant's body in order to penetrate the anthill. They are difficult to distinguish.
Ants use their legs for more than just locomotion. Since they are able to place them wider than their body, and also due to the strength of their legs, the insect lifts and carries enormous weight. The mass of such a load can be 50 times greater than the mass of the insect itself.
The ant also uses its legs to measure distances. This is done by insects that live in deserts. That is, legs are also a navigation tool. That's how many functions there are. The insect remembers how many steps there are before the turn and, focusing on the angle, makes an amendment.
Article on the topic: How long do crows live in captivity and in the wild - features of bird life
The legs secrete strong pheromones - substances that produce marks when moving . This is how the insect shows its brothers the way. More marks attract more other ants. Sometimes mistakes occur when applying marks, which causes the insects following to lose their way and begin to run in circles. They close the trail with a fresher trail, and this can be a disaster for the whole family.
Thin, mobile and strong legs will allow the ant to work miracles and perform very difficult work every day.
Why gears?
While studying the number of legs in insects of different classes, their structure and functions, scientists came across an unexpected fact. Some of them have an interesting mechanism in their structure - a gear. Schematically, it can be represented in the form of two jagged wheels that are interlocked. Through the protrusions they interact and synchronize movement. Why is this?
It turns out that this mechanism allows insects to jump at tremendous speed. This miracle lives in America, it is called Jesus. It is not capable of flight, but it makes amazing jumps. Even a speeding car will not be able to overtake it during takeoff. It is interesting that these legs are located not on the sides, but at the bottom of the insect.
This makes his life problematic. If you do not push off synchronously, then the jump will not work. The insect simply circles on one leg. Evolution has eliminated this effect with a mechanical device whose purpose is to make the shocks synchronous. The scientists' surprise knew no bounds. This is the first recorded fact of the use of engineering in the structure of living beings.
Many people are confused about the types of invertebrates when answering the question of how many pairs of legs insects have. Spiders and centipedes of all kinds are mistakenly included among them, which is fundamentally incorrect. Later we will say a few words about them, but for now we will turn our attention to representatives of the Insect class.
