Antdom: the ant cartoon
Did you know how advanced ant medicine is?
Feb
Did you know how advanced ant medicine is?
In this article we will review how ants cure themselves and how they treat injuries according to recent studies.
Ant Defenses: Stomach Control and Metapleural Glands
METAPLEURAL GLAND
Ants have evolved strong defenses against parasites, with the antibiotic-producing metapleural gland being one of the most important. This gland, located on the ant’s thorax near the second pair of legs, acts like a personal med lab, providing protection against infections. However, not all ant species possess this gland. So how do ants without the metapleural gland avoid disease?
THE POLYRHACHIS DIVES CASE
Researchers studied the golden shiny ant, Polyrhachis dives, which lacks this gland. They compared it to Formica fusca and other ant species that have the gland. They found that Polyrhachis dives ants use stomach acid to improve their chances of survival when eating contaminated food. This acid also helps beneficial bacteria, like Acetobacteraceae, to thrive in their guts and prevent a considerable amount of diseases.
Food Supplements for Ants
Just like humans take food supplements to stay healthy, ants have also developed ways to supplement their nutrition. For example, Blochmannia is a type of bacteria that lives inside the camponotini tribe of ants. These ants, which live in trees, lack certain amino acids.
Blochmannia lives in their stomachs and helps provide the necessary nutrients. Although researchers don’t know exactly how it works yet, these bacteria and others help ants with their basic nutritional needs.
Ants and Antibiotics
South American leaf cutter ants live in symbiosis with bacteria that form a biofilm on their bodies. This biofilm protects the ants’ fungus gardens from parasites, which are crucial for ant survival. Recent studies suggest these bacteria also protect young worker ants from infection. The biofilm, which looks like white dust on their exoskeletons, is always present, so the ants don’t need to go to a drugstore for protection!
Ant Ointment
Megaponera analis, an African ant species, is known for hunting termites. During battles with termites, ants can get injured. If an ant needs help, it stays calm and uses pheromones to signal for assistance. If the injury is too severe, the ant avoids help and moves frantically in the battle.
Biologist Erik Frank observed that when an ant receives medevac, its sisters touch the wounds with their feet, applying an antimicrobial substance produced by the metapleural gland. This treatment leads to a 90% survival rate, demonstrating that ants value life and provide medical attention similar to humans.
Ant Amputation
Florida carpenter ants can perform amputations with a high survival rate of 70% to 95%. They clean and cut the injured leg at the best possible point. In comparison, ants that do not receive amputation or treatment have a much lower survival rate of 15% to 40%. These ants might have been the first surgeons on Earth!
Conclusion
Ants have developed a variety of fascinating and effective methods to protect themselves and ensure their survival. From using stomach acid and beneficial bacteria to living in symbiosis with antibiotic-producing bacteria, ants have proven to be remarkable creatures. They even perform medical procedures like wound treatment and amputation. Ants continue to amaze us with their ingenuity and resilience.
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