Man lives side by side with ants for thousands of years. They learned to adapt to different climatic conditions. They know how to be organized and united. The most popular question about them is: how much can an ant raise?
There are about 13,000 species of these insects and their total mass is up to 25% of the total mass of land animals. The closest relatives of the ant are bees and wasps.
Description
The family of ants belongs to the hymenoptera. The size of these insects is from 1 to 50 mm, depending on the species. Their body is elongated, has three segments: head, mesosome and abdomen. The ant has a chitinous shell that protects its body.
Cranked antennae serve as a communication organ. This sensory organ is designed to read information from other ants with air currents or vibrations.
The ant has poor eyesight, but it distinguishes movements perfectly. He has two complex faceted eyes and three additional eyes that help evaluate the level of illumination.
On the ant's head are strong stingers, the power of which depends on the species. The insect protects them, transfers food and building materials. How much weight an ant can lift is judged by various studies.
Each paw of a small creature is equipped with a claw, thanks to which it can easily climb vertical surfaces.
Almost all the queens and males have wings, but after fertilization, the female gets rid of them on her own. Workers do not have organs for flight and developed organs for reproduction.
Lifestyle
Ants are insects with a high level of socialization. They form families (colonies), the number of which can reach several million individuals. Three ants are distinguished among ants.
Females are queens. Females that have a developed reproductive system are highly regarded. They have wings and an impressive size. A sexually mature female leaves the nest for mating and later arranges a new separate nest. Females of some species are introduced into a different anthill. The female's task is to lay eggs. She mates once in a lifetime. She does not need a male to lay eggs.
Males. These ants also have wings and the ability to breed. Sexually mature individuals leave the nest with future queens and fertilize them. After mating, they die after some time.
Workers This caste is the most numerous and consists of females with an undeveloped reproductive system. They are engaged in various activities. The youngest of them take care of eggs and larvae. Older ants are engaged in food search, nest protection. The oldest individuals look after the storerooms.
How much can the working class ant raise? The weight he lifts can exceed his own weight many times over.
Ants build nests (anthills) on the ground, underground, in the trunks of trees and in the human home. These houses are built from land and plant components. The anthill consists of many passages, corridors and chambers, thousands of entrances and exits.
The summer rooms are located upstairs and the winter ones are in the earth. There is a separate cell for the queen. The eggs laid by her are transferred to other rooms: the "nannies" will look after them.
If the anthill is in danger, its inhabitants cooperate for collective resistance. Some species go to conquer alien anthills to capture slaves.
Ant nutrition
Most species of ants are predators. For normal development and vital functions they need carbohydrates and proteins. The main consumers of protein are larvae, and carbohydrates are adults. Sample ant diet:
- living and dead insects;
- pad (aphids);
- plant and fruit juices;
- mushrooms and dead animals;
- plants' seeds;
Food foragers - working females - are engaged in the extraction of food.
Ants are breeding aphids, for which they have shepherds and millers. They protect their "herd" and look after it.
Many species of ants breed mushrooms for food. They break the gardens, fertilizing them with pieces of cut plants and falling.
For food, foragers can be several hundred meters away from the nest. Moreover, they are able to find the shortest way back.
How much does the ant raise
The studied insects are distinguished by increased industriousness and endurance. They are able to be in motion almost the whole day. For maximum productivity, nature rewarded them with developed muscles.
How much can an ant lift (more than its weight)? This question was repeatedly asked by myrmologists. According to their research, this weight is 50 times that of an ant!
If the ant is unable to cope with the transfer of cargo, he drags it with a drag or cooperates with other ants.
Ant in the house
A human house for an ant is a very convenient option. As a rule, it is warm here, relatively safe and there is an opportunity to find food.
House ants love houses built on marshland. They especially like the homes of sluts, whose houses are in turmoil. Old repairs, the consequence of which are outgoing skirting boards and wallpapers, cracked walls, tile voids are favorable conditions for the construction of the nest.
Ants love food leftovers: crumbs, sugar crystals, fats, pet food. Unclean dishes, dirt in the restroom contributes to the prosperity of the ant family.
Ant is one of the most amazing species of insects. The organization of their family life resembles human society. They always attracted people. That is why questions, such as how much an ant can raise, will interest mankind for many more years. Especially because a huge number of species of these insects have not yet been studied.