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What are the most common enemies of ants?
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Top 10 of ANTS ENEMIES
10 animals that pose a threat to ants
Ants navigate a complex and perilous world where they play the dual roles of predator and prey. Despite their small size, ants are formidable hunters, capable of working together to overcome much larger adversaries. However, they are also vulnerable to a host of predators, each employing unique strategies to turn ants into their next meal.
In this article, we’ll talk about the most common predators of ants. This list is not exhaustive, but it highlights the fascinating dynamics and relentless challenges ants face in their quest for survival.
Let’s explore the top 10 animals that pose a threat to ants.
SMALLER ANT PREDATORS
#10 Spiders
Spiders generally avoid ants because ants are formidable when they work together. However, isolated ants or those caught in webs become prey. Some spiders mimic ants in appearance or scent to hunt them, and some even live inside ant nests.
The camouflage can be way more simple: The Aphantochilus rogersi is a type of ant-mimicking crab spider native to South America, ranges from Panama to Paraguay.
This spider imitates ants of the genus Cephalotes, its favored prey. Intriguingly, it carries the carcasses of ants above its body like a protective shield. This behavior likely serves as an offensive camouflage: the spider, masking its identity and enabling it to get closer to and overpower other ants. Alternatively, this tactic might also function as a defensive camouflage as the spider can hide from potential predators and mimics ants behaviour.
#9 Antlions
Antlions are no ants at all! They resemble dragonflies as adults, and are deadly to ants during their larval stage. Larvae set traps to capture ants and other insects using their large mandibles, similar to a stingray hunting in the sea. Some ant species learnt how to avoid these deadly traps, recognizing the antlion pits.
#8 Ichneumonidae Wasps
Closely related to ants, Ichneumonidae wasps lay their eggs inside or on the exoskeleton of ants. The larva consumes the host from the inside upon hatching, This process is a grim fate for the ants. Some wasps paralyze the host entirely until the larvae leave, while others allow their offspring to weaken and eventually devour the host.
#7 Fungui
Cordyceps, a type of fungus, takes over an ant’s nervous system, causing it to leave the colony and die on higher ground. The ants become a sort of living-dead that doesn’t react to any outside stimuli. That is why the ants are commonly called “zombie ants”. When the ant is on higher ground, she stops moving allowing the fungus to grow and complete its life cycle. Then, it releases its spores carried by the wind to infect more ants. Other fungi harm ants by reproducing inside their bodies or their crops, leading to potential starvation for the colony.
BIGGER ANT PREDATORS
Now, let’s explore predators that are much larger than ants.
#6 Lizards and Other Reptiles
These creatures need no introduction. Their fast and long tongues are a nightmare for ants. Horned lizards primarily consume ants and inhabit the western United States.
“These lizards are well-adapted to their arid environments, often found basking in the sun or camouflaging themselves against the rocky terrain. In addition to ants, they occasionally feed on other small insects, but ants make up the bulk of their diet, providing essential nutrients for their survival.
They face a significant challenge with the spread of fire ants, which drastically reduce local ant populations in newly colonized areas. Horned lizards do not eat fire ants, leading to a sharp decline in their numbers and pushing the species towards extinction.
#5 Bats
In tropical regions, nocturnal bats predominantly feed on ants that are active during the night. In temperate zones, these bats adapt their behavior to occasionally wake during the day to catch ants engaged in nuptial flights.
This behavior is essential for their survival, as ants provide a significant source of protein. The adaptability of bats highlights their role in controlling ant populations and maintaining ecological balance in their respective habitats. By targeting ants during specific activity periods, bats effectively utilize available resources, demonstrating their flexible feeding strategies.
#4 Woodpeckers
These birds dig into wood to eat insects, including ants. They particularly enjoy species like four dots ants, whose larvae are hidden in trees.
They use their strong beaks to bore into the wood, creating holes that allow them to reach the insects inside. This behavior not only provides them with a rich food source but also plays a crucial role in controlling pest populations in forest ecosystems.
Some ants, like Formica rufa, are also exposed to predators. This species is known for climbing trees to tend to aphids or collecting resin used as mortar in their dome-shaped anthills. They are quite exposed to bird predators but use their acid spray to fend off attackers. This self-defense mechanism is crucial for their survival and highlights their resilience in the face of threats.
#3 Anteaters
Anteaters use their claws to break open nests and their sticky tongues to grab ants. Their tongues can dart in and out of their mouths 150 times per minute. Surprisingly, anteaters consume only about 140 insects per nest, allowing the nest to survive for future meals. Anteaters are generally slow-moving creatures, but they can move quickly when threatened, reaching speeds of up to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour) for short bursts.
#2 Primates
Chimps use sticks to extract ants from nests, minimizing bites, while gorillas use their hands to gather ants. Both primates consume ants to meet their protein needs, which is especially important when fruit is scarce. This dietary supplement showcases the resourcefulness and adaptability of these primates in their quest for sustenance.
#1 humans
Humans are the biggest threat to ants. Some communities in Southeast Asia and South America eat ants or their larvae. However, deforestation, pesticide use, urban expansion, and climate change pose significant threats to ant habitats, endangering many species.
Despite these challenges, many ant species have adapted by changing their nesting habits. Some have spread worldwide by hitching rides with humans. To protect these fascinating creatures, we must make additional efforts to safeguard their habitats.
