The mind of ants has long puzzled scientists. Indeed, is it possible to assume that such primitive and small creatures generally have some rudiments of consciousness? But the behavior of many subspecies of ants can be compared with human behavior. There is a place for slave wars, hunting and gathering, there are palace coups and large-scale battles. In addition, some ants behave like real gangsters - see how amazing and unusual this micro-universe is under our feet.
Child killer ants. Solenopsis Fugax
These ants do not bother themselves with the search for food. And why, when you can just get into someone else's nest, scare away all the workers and steal the larvae. Real cannibals!
Robber ants. Temnothorax pilagens
The species of the so-called invisible ants or robber ants does not have its own working individuals: only real warriors are raised here. They attack small relatives, drag off their larvae and use them as a slave force. How can this be called? That's right, a democratic society.
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Ants are chemists. Crematogaster Striatula
African ants of this species prey on large termites. On the abdomen they have poisonous glands: at the sight of a termite, an ant sprays a paralyzing poison and eats alive prey twitching with horror.
Gangster ants. Cardiocondyla obscurior
There can only be one Don in a gangster colony. Rather, one male - if a competitor comes from outside, the local alpha will release special pheromones that lure workers. They kill the intruder. In addition, the alpha male is careful to ensure that the nannies kill the newborn male ants. Only on the second day their shell becomes strong and the rivals enter the fray. Both emit the same pheromones into the air, provoking an attack by workers. In half of the cases, the workers kill both claimants to the throne without understanding.
Mirror ants. Cephalotes Specularis
The species Cephalotes Specularis has adapted to parasitize on more warlike relatives, Crematogaster Ampla. They arrange surveillance of a tribe of warriors until they find a source of food. Here, the tactics of spies completely change: Cephalotes Specularis pretend that they are competitors, and while warlike brothers are built to repel the enemy, they simply steal food and run away.
Ants are parasites. Formicoxenus Nitidulus
The shiny guest ants are the real drones of the ant world. They get into someone else's colony and live happily ever after, not working and not protecting the colony. Moreover, the guards can catch such an uninvited guest, but they immediately let him go - scientists believe that because of the disgusting smell.
Dinosaur ants. Dinoponera quadriceps
Ants of this species grow up to 2.5 centimeters in length, real giants. In their colony, there is one alpha female and five beta females, needed to quickly replace alpha in case of misfortune. But often, someone from the beta runs the risk of laying eggs before the deadline, and then the alpha female orders the workers to shackle her to the ground with saliva. After staying in such a cage for 4 days, beta turns into one of the ordinary workers.
Needle ants. Pachycondyla Chinensis
There are two varieties of Pachycondyla Chinensis: Argentinian and Asian. At the moment, the Asians are conducting a major offensive on the lands of their Argentine relatives - soon there will be only one subspecies.
War ants. Pheidole
Large-headed ants are so named because one of the castes has substantially larger heads than the other two. There are ordinary workers, slightly larger soldiers and really huge super warriors, whose heads are three times larger than those of ordinary soldiers.
Rasberry ants. Nylanderia fulva
A real war is going on between this species and the fire ants. Moreover, the venom of fire ants is as much as three times more toxic than the DDT insecticide, that is, they can destroy most other insects. In addition to the Rasberry ants, they release a special toxin that covers the entire body and neutralizes other people's poisons.