Articles tagged with Ants
The California Academy of Sciences has added 102 new plant and animal species to Earth's family tree, enriching our understanding of the planet's complex web of life. These discoveries include tiny, blood-sucking Dracula ants, vibrant sea slugs, and eight new viruses from around five continents and three oceans.
A century-old mystery surrounding an invasive ant species has been solved, with scientists finding it originated from Asia. The study used genetic analysis and distribution maps to confirm the correct answer.
Research on invasive yellow crazy ants found they are more likely to attack native cruiser butterfly caterpillars than green tree ants. The study suggests a potential eradication program could mitigate ecological damage, but federal support is uncertain without state and local backing.
The study found that the ant species Pseudomyrmex dendroicus provides its exclusive host Triplaris americana with significant protection against herbivory and disease. The ants patrol their hosts during both day and night, aggressively attacking any herbivores they encounter.
A species of trap-jaw ant has been found to exhibit a previously unseen jumping behavior, using its legs rather than its powerful jaws. This species, Odontomachus rixosus, is the only known ant that can jump with either its legs or mandibles.
Researchers at OIST discovered two ancient genetic components involved in sex determination in ants. The study found that a mechanism called complementary sex determination is used, where females are diploid and males are haploid. This system has been linked to the evolution of sex determining genes dating back over 100 million years.
Researchers discovered army ants form complex bridges without a lead ant, adapting to terrain and optimizing food collection. The collective computation allows them to balance cost and benefit, a phenomenon that could inform the development of swarm robots.
Army ants construct complex bridges from their own bodies to span gaps and create shortcuts in the floor of the tropical forests of Central America. These living bridges are made up of dozens of ants and can assemble and disassemble in a matter of seconds.
Researchers discovered that army ant bridges can move to span large gaps and change position as needed, balancing a cost-benefit trade-off between colony benefits and worker sequestration. This finding has implications for developing swarm robotics for disaster relief and exploration.
Researchers studied ant colonies subjected to simulated predator attacks, revealing differentiated responses based on location. The results show that ants respond appropriately to damage, similar to single organisms, with colony-wide responses triggered by loss of workers within the nest.
Researchers simulated predator attacks on ant colonies, revealing coordinated responses to damage. When scouts were removed from the periphery, foraging arms retreated into the nest, while entire colonies fled when workers were removed from the center.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology found that ants can flow like liquids when subjected to high pressure, but also exhibit springy behavior when probed at short times. This unique combination of properties allows ants to build bridges, span gaps, and even self-assemble into rafts to survive floodwaters.
Ants build complex transportation networks by minimizing costs while maintaining efficiency and robustness. Researchers at Uppsala University applied this principle to human-made systems, finding that connecting new suburbs to the closest city area can ensure relatively cheap but efficient power networks. By adjusting the frequency of ...
A UC San Diego study found that more connected chambers in ant nests increase social interactions, allowing ants to quickly communicate good food sources. The spatial organization of a nest has a greater impact on collective behavior than the number of workers.
A study on dinosaur ants and red paper wasps found subtle, non-random arrangements of gene networks distinguish queens from workers, suggesting no single master gene regulates caste differentiation. The research also suggests that epigenetic modifications play a limited role in regulating these differences.
Researchers uncovered molecular mechanisms behind caste differentiation in insects, revealing subtle gene networks and lack of DNA methylation. The study used two species, dinosaur ants and red paper wasps, to gain insights into social evolution.
A team of biologists from OIST and University of Hong Kong analyzed a database of modern and fossil ants to determine their geographical distribution. The study reveals that ancient European ants were more similar to South East Asian modern ants than European counterparts.
A 15-year study discovered 61 new strains of fungal parasites in leaf-cutter ant nests, which could lead to new control strategies. The findings suggest that a single form of the parasite could be used to target multiple species of ants.
Research found that young male chimpanzees spend more time manipulating objects in play, but it does not prepare them for adult tool use. In contrast, immature females show a greater diversity of manipulation types and learn to use tools earlier.
Two new 'door head' ant species have evolved saucer-like shields to block nest entrances and protect against intruders. Their unique morphologies are the second case of such specialization discovered in Africa.
Researchers at University of Bristol have discovered a new type of plant movement that uses falling raindrops to drive its trapping mechanism, outperforming the Venus flytrap. The pitcher plant's lid pivots up and down like a springboard, flinging ants into the trap with peak velocities similar to a jumping locust.
Researchers at Kobe University identified novel chemosensory proteins in ant antennae, revealing cooperative modes of operation and recognition of individual information. These findings provide a starting point for elucidating the molecular mechanisms supporting complex ant societies.
A study published in Current Biology reveals that lycaenid butterfly larvae can control the behavior of ants by supplying them with nectar rich in sugars and amino acids. This manipulation reduces locomotor activity and increases aggression in the ants, suggesting a selfish strategy to maintain mutualism.
A species of ant, the northern hairy wood ant (Formica lugubris), is thriving in newly formed coniferous forests in the North York Moors National Park. The ant's population has expanded into these plantations, suggesting they provide a suitable habitat for this forest specialist species.
Researchers at University of Helsinki found that black ants can change their food taste in response to fungal pathogens. By consuming a diet with high levels of free radicals, the ants show improved resistance to infections.
Researchers discovered ants can detect subtle hydrocarbon components in body odor, allowing them to recognize individuals and distinguish between castes. This remarkable ability enables social insects to maintain complex colonies.
A UC Riverside-led team discovered that ants detect a unique blend of hydrocarbons on individual cuticles to recognize different castes and intruders. This sophisticated pheromone system allows ants to coordinate their behaviors efficiently in large colonies with multiple castes.
Researchers found that the evolutionary loss of the worker caste in ants is not accompanied by a loss of genes. Instead, most genes are expressed in both queens and workers, but often at different points in development. Regulatory changes may have facilitated the evolution of sociality.
A team of ants uses a balance between individual direction and conformist behavior to move food towards their nest, making adjustments as needed. This cooperative behavior enables the group to optimize their movement, with well-informed individuals steering the load.
Researchers found that two neighboring chimpanzee groups used distinct tool lengths despite identical army ant species availability, indicating cultural knowledge generated small-scale diversification. This study provides insights into what drives cultural differences in chimpanzees and sheds light on human cultural evolution.
Two new Hoya species, H. ruthiae and H. bakoensis, have been discovered in Borneo, showcasing the island's rich plant diversity. The study highlights their unique characteristics, such as H. ruthiae's lack of colored sap and H. bakoensis' epiphytic growth habit.
Researchers from California Academy of Sciences have described six new species of subterranean Dracula ants in Madagascar and Seychelles. These tiny ants are fierce social predators with dagger-like teeth that hunt underground or deep within leaf litter, leading a cryptic lifestyle.
Researchers discovered that Saharan silver ants use a coat of uniquely shaped hairs to control electromagnetic waves over an extremely broad range, enabling passive radiative cooling. The hair coating enhances optical reflection and radiative heat dissipation, keeping the ants' body temperature below their critical thermal maximum.
A new study from Drexel University found that underground species of army ants are less tolerant of high temperatures than their aboveground relatives. The research highlights the importance of considering microhabitat in predicting animal responses to climate change.
Researchers found that trap-jaw ants use their spring-loaded mandibles to jump out of harm's way when an ant-trapping predator stalks, doubling their survival rate. The study verifies that the mandibles aid the ants' survival by allowing them to eject themselves from a dangerous predicament.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that trap-jaw ants use their spring-loaded mandibles to jump out of harm's way when threatened by an antlion. This behavior increases the ants' survival rate, with 15% of encounters resulting in escape.
Researchers have discovered that ants' movements follow Gaussian and Pareto distributions, dictating their turns and direction. These findings have implications for coordinating micro-robots and optimizing cleaning processes.
Researchers discovered fire ants can excavate tunnels regardless of grain size, with moisture affecting only dry soils. The ants use mechanical factors and capillary forces to build stable structures.
Researchers found that infected ants clean themselves more frequently but restrict allogrooming with healthy group members. This self-restriction helps contain the pathogen's spread in the ant colony, benefiting all social animals under epidemic threat.
A new open-access article provides cutting-edge resources for identifying parasitoid wasps in Africa and Madagascar, with over 306 described species and 54 genera available for research. The resource aims to facilitate future work on the taxonomy of these wasps and their importance in ecosystems.
A study found that butterflies, such as Oakblue butterflies, use various chemical strategies to mimic plants and avoid ant attacks. The larvae are able to survive on specific plant species without being attacked by the ants.
An isotope study by North Carolina State University has found that some urban ant species have a taste for human food. The research analyzed over 100 ant samples to determine their diet composition, revealing that pavement ants on sidewalks and medians have high levels of carbon-13, indicating a diet rich in human food.
A McGill University team has identified a mechanism by which environmental factors influence the expression of genes controlling complex traits. By manipulating DNA methylation levels, researchers were able to create variation in worker ant sizes, shedding light on the interplay between genetics and environment in shaping these traits.
In a study published in PLOS ONE, researchers found that ants in white plaster nests filled specific corner areas with feces of the same color as their fed food, indicating potential 'toilets'. The ants also preferentially placed these toilets in corners, highlighting a unique aspect of ant sanitation.
Researchers traced tropical fire ant origins to Acapulco, Mexico, and mapped their invasion history using genetic diversity analysis. The ants were transported on ships going between the Americas and Asia, establishing a new distribution in virtually all tropical regions.
Researchers found that hydrogels saturated with thiamethoxam dissolved in sugar water reduced the Argentine ant population by 94% in two weeks. The use of hydrogel baits offers an inexpensive, easy-to-apply alternative to traditional pesticides, reducing environmental costs and selectively targeting invasive ants.
Researchers discovered that trap-jaw ants can tell who belongs in the nest and who doesn't by recognizing the distinctive blend of odors. The ants use chemical context to assess an individual's status, a hierarchical system that is fundamental to their social structure.
Researchers found that ant-scaring insects, like beetles, allowed treehoppers to thrive, benefiting nearby rabbitbrush plants. This study highlights the interconnectedness of species in ecosystems and the importance of conservation.
Researchers at UC Riverside devised a method to isolate hydrocarbon molecules used by insects for communication and differentiation. The study found that nearly all insects produce the R form of these chemicals, paving the way for understanding their functions and potential applications in controlling pest species.
Researchers discovered that hunting bats rely on echolocation calls from fellow bats to pinpoint insect patches. By aggregating and sharing this information, bats can improve their chances of finding prey despite the challenges posed by sparse distribution and long flight distances.
Researchers discover a new type of ant-decapitating behavior in the genus Dohrniphora, where adult female flies sever ant heads and drag them off across the forest floor. This behavior challenges previous knowledge of the Phoridae family.
Researchers reconstruct genetic family tree of Pheidole ants, finding two main groups with distinct evolutionary histories in the Americas and Europe/Asia/Africa/Australia. The study reveals a deterministic pattern in climate distribution, suggesting that Pheidole's success is linked to a key innovation.
Temnothorax albipennis ants exhibit a significant leftward turning bias when exploring new nests and mazes. This behavior is attributed to the use of their left eye for detecting predators and navigating through maze-like environments.
Researchers reconstructed how fungus-growing ants improved their clonal crops into a robust farming system. The ant farmers lost the ability to produce vital amino acids and enzymes themselves, relying on the fungus for delivery.
A new study from North Carolina State University reveals that insects and other arthropods consume large amounts of garbage on NYC streets, including 2,100 pounds of discarded junk food per year. The researchers found that pavement ants are particularly efficient foragers in urban environments and compete with rats to eat human garbage.
Researchers found that the time spent by a drunken sailor on a square with streetlamps is constant regardless of the lamp density. This effect also applies to light waves in disordered media, rubber balls rolling across a plank, and even ant paths, revealing a universal phenomenon.
Florida harvester ants exhibit annual nest relocation behavior, constructing similar subterranean nests about once a year. The frequency and size of relocations vary among colonies, with smaller ones relocating more often than larger ones.
A study of ants in Manhattan revealed a wide range of species and significant differences in biodiversity across various urban areas. Researchers found that the type of urban habitat was more important than proximity between habitats in determining ant diversity.
Researchers are using ant behavior to develop a new method for verifying complex electronic designs. By applying swarm intelligence, these methods can efficiently search large spaces and reduce the computational cost of traditional approaches.
Scientists found that Maculinea butterfly larvae mimic Myrmica ant queen sounds to fool workers into feeding them, even when the real ants are starving. The researchers recorded and analyzed sound signals emitted by both butterflies and ants, finding similarities in patterns between the two.