Swapping spit helps ants share metabolic labour
Ant colonies use fluids passed mouth-to-mouth to create a colony-wide metabolism, shows a study published in eLife.
Plants & Animals
Nov 23, 2021
0
21
News tagged with ants
When and why did human brains decrease in size 3,000 years ago? Ants may hold clues
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. Now, a new study has brought us closer to understanding some of its evolution. It shows that human brains decreased in size approximately 3,000 years ago. By studying ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 22, 2021
15
2519
Scientists discover a host of reasons for the evolution of social parasites in ants
In a story that took the world by storm, a downtrodden yet cunning, lower-class family infiltrates a wealthier neighborhood's home. Then, all hell breaks loose.
Plants & Animals
Sep 29, 2021
0
508
Bacteria from nematodes could be used to kill fire ants
Bacteria-infected nematodes may provide biological control of invasive European fire ants found in Maine, according to a University of Maine-led study.
Plants & Animals
Jul 28, 2021
0
74
Fire ants found to create 'appendages' on self-made rafts when put in water
A team of researchers at the University of Colorado has found that fire ants can create 'appendages' on the rafts they make out of their own bodies when they find themselves in water. In their paper published in the Journal ...
Mushroom growing out of fossilized ant reveals new genus and species of fungal parasite
Oregon State University research has identified the oldest known specimen of a fungus parasitizing an ant, and the fossil also represents a new fungal genus and species.
Ecology
Jun 22, 2021
0
27
The complex organization of an ant colony
The colonies of social insects are complex systems that are entirely self-organized. Scientists who looked at the demographic, genetic and morphological structure of ant colonies were able to show how this self-organization ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 18, 2021
0
19
Tapeworms extend the lifespan of worker ants in western Europe
A team of researchers has found that a western European ant lives much longer if it is infected with tapeworms. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the group describes their study of the ants ...
Spiders avoid areas where fire ants have been
A team of researchers at Canada's Simon Fraser University has found that several species of spiders avoid areas where fire ants have recently congregated. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, ...
Wood ants show the way when it comes to getting a good meal
With lockdown easing it is a dilemma many of us are facing: should we choose to go to the best place to eat out, or the nearest place that is good enough?
Plants & Animals
May 5, 2021
0
38
