Articles tagged with Ants
A joint project between NC State University and the University of Florida is using cookies, citizen science, and robust research methods to collect data on ant species diversity. The School of Ants project has already yielded surprising findings, including the spread of invasive species across the US.
A new species of spider wasp, the Bone-house Wasp, uses dead ants as a unique nest-protection strategy, resulting in lower parasitism rates. The study found that this behavior is likely linked to chemical cues emanating from the dead ants.
Researchers developed an elastic polycarbonate material to produce a miniature force plate, enabling forces to be measured in the micro-Newton range. Ants were found to adopt a 'grounded running' strategy, increasing stride length and number of steps to improve stability at higher speeds.
Researchers discovered that trap-jaw ant species are expanding their territory in the southeastern United States. The study identified two new species, O. haematodus and O. ruginodis, which have spread across the Gulf Coast region, including Florida and Alabama.
Tropical ants have developed swimming abilities to navigate flooded forests, with over 50% of species exhibiting this trait. The ants' swimming techniques, such as using one leg to propel themselves forward and the other for stability, were analyzed in a study published in The Journal of Experimental Biology.
Ants use mandibles and legs to create waterproof rafts with strong internal connections. The CT scan reveals that ants can connect with up to 14 neighbors, creating a porous and buoyant structure.
Fire ants form complex networks of connections between their bodies and limbs, aligning their bodies perpendicularly and pushing against each other to reduce density. The ants actively control spacing and orientation within self-assemblages, using their legs to grip neighbours and increase buoyancy.
A recent ant study discovered three new copies of egg yolk protein Vitellogenin, which play distinct roles in regulating ant societies. The findings suggest that patterns underlying caste differences are not easily generalized across social insects.
Researchers found that individual ants' experiences contribute to their foraging success and lead to an optimization of the path. The collective behavior of ants forms a highly efficient complex network, applicable not only to animals with homes but also to human behavioral patterns.
The study sequenced the genome of a dampwood termite, highlighting key differences and similarities with other social insects. The findings provide insight into how social insects evolved and could lead to new baits for controlling termites.
Researchers developed 3D models of an ant's neck anatomy to study its biomechanics and determine the relationship between mechanical function, structural design, and material properties. The results revealed that the ant's neck joint can withstand loads of up to 5,000 times its body weight.
A study from North Carolina State University found that increases in dopamine levels trigger dramatic physical changes in Indian jumping ant workers, transforming them into warrior queens with elevated life expectancy. This discovery has implications for understanding social insect behavior and epigenetics.
A team of researchers led by David Hughes is studying the role of group size, complexity, and connectedness in driving infectious disease transmission. By analyzing ant colonies, they aim to develop strategies to reduce the spread of diseases, including those affecting humans in schools, hospitals, and farms.
Researchers identified 24 functional categories of genes with strong positive selection in ant lineages, including those related to nervous system development and immunity. Ant-specific signals on mitochondrial activity genes may be responsible for increased queen lifespan up to 30 years.
Researchers have developed a navigation map system based on ant colony behavior to aid evacuees in disaster zones. The system utilizes smartphones as networked sensors to provide real-time updates, enabling users to navigate safely through damaged areas.
Parasitic butterfly larvae may use acoustic signals to infiltrate ant colonies, according to a study published in PLOS ONE. The larvae's sound patterns were found to be more similar to those of the queen ant than worker ants, suggesting a potential strategy for infiltration and exploitation.
Scientists discover six new Dracula ants species in Madagascar that challenge the traditional ant caste system. The study reveals that minor workers become queens, revolutionizing our understanding of ant biology.
A new simulation module developed at ETH Zurich uses an ant algorithm to predict the interaction of molecules with human proteins, identifying potential side effects and optimizing molecular design. The module can now design new active agents in minutes, suggesting necessary chemical synthesis steps.
A timid jumping spider uses the scent of ants as a defense mechanism against spitting spiders, positioning itself near ant nests for protection. However, this protection also comes with a cost, as jumping spiders are preyed upon by their savior species, the weaver ant.
Researchers observed that worker ants and broods were extremely resistant to submersion during floods. The ants protected the queen by placing her in the center of the raft, with workers using the brood's buoyancy and their own recovery ability to minimize injury or death.
A University of Texas at Austin study reveals that crazy ants can neutralize fire ant venom, making them nearly invincible in battles over food resources. This detoxification process allows crazy ants to dominate and displace fire ants in the southeastern US ecosystem.
The genome of the queenless clonal raider ant provides insights into social evolution and behavior. Researchers found that nestmates are almost clonally related and reproduce asexually, with genomic heterozygosity lost slowly.
Researchers discovered that ants' neck joints can withstand pressures of up to 5,000 times the ant's weight due to a unique combination of soft tissue and hard exoskeleton materials. This finding could lead to the development of micro-sized robots with improved mechanical functionality.
A recent study by Mainz biologists has identified novel genes that determine the division of labor in ants, showing how gene expression differs between castes. The research found that queens express more known genes related to solitary insects, while workers have unique, modified or novel genes.
Scientists describe 10 new Temnothorax ant species in California, doubling the genus' count, and link them to the AntWeb database with unique identifiers. This allows for easy harvesting of specimen data by other online resources.
Researchers found that ants inhibit pathogen growth on leaves by inhibiting symbiotic bacteria colonization. Mutualistic ant species reduced leaf damage from herbivores and microbial pathogens compared to parasitic ant species.
A new species of slave-making ant, Temnothorax pilagens, was discovered in the eastern USA, using minimalistic raiding parties to crack castles made by two related ant species.
Researchers found that ants modify their thoracic segments to match the tasks they perform as adults, with worker ants having enlarged neck muscles for strength and maneuverability. Queens have distinct thorax shapes associated with strategies used to found new colonies.
Entomologists at UC Riverside have created a novel technique that combines synthetic pheromone with insecticide sprays to effectively control Argentine ant colonies. The 'attract-and-kill' approach resulted in a 57-142% increase in kill rate, making it an economically viable alternative for urban pest management.
The California Academy of Sciences discovered 91 new plant and animal species in 2013, including 38 ants, 12 fishes, and 14 plants. This finds highlights the importance of biodiversity hotspots like Madagascar and the need for continued exploration and conservation efforts.
New fossils support Andrey Martynov's theory that wasps emerged from snakefly-like ancestors around 260-270 million years ago. The study also identifies the origins of alderfly and nanosialid families.
Scientists describe a new, large, and colorful beetle species from French Guiana that lives among ants, defying the dull coloration of its relatives. The newly discovered species, Guyanemorpha spectabilis, belongs to the Pseudomorphini Tribe and is comparable to the Olinguito, a carnivore species recently described in ZooKeys.
Researchers discovered that fire ant rafts can store energy like an elastic material and dissipate energy as a viscous material. The structure of the raft is constantly changing through active rearrangements, allowing it to adapt to external forces.
Female ants and bees are more inclined to care for the queen's offspring due to their maternal behaviors preserved through evolution. This study reveals that females take on jobs suited historically, leading to the evolution of species with female-dominated caregiving roles.
Ecuador laurel trees support more scale insects, which produce honeydew for Azteca ants, boosting their numbers and defending the foliage. The tree-ant mutualism is stronger under resource-poor conditions, with trees paying carbon to ants in exchange for guard duty.
In dry conditions, Ecuador laurel trees invest more in honeydew production for ants, which strengthens their defensive mutualism. The study suggests that trees may 'buy insurance' for their leaves with carbon-rich sap, paid to ants in exchange for protection.
A new relative of the most widespread ant genus Paratrechina has been discovered in Africa, challenging previous understanding of its native range. The newly found species, P. zanjensis, is potentially specialized to miombo woodlands and may provide insights into the biology of Paratrechina longicornis.
Scientists used state-of-the-art genome sequencing and bioinformatics to resolve the long-standing question of ants' evolutionary relationships. The study found that ants are more closely related to bees than to most wasps, with ants forming a sister group to the Apoidea family within Hymenoptera.
Rock ants adjust their search effort based on nest quality and potential new homes, demonstrating a measured approach to evaluating the housing market.
Researchers found that permanent parasites that are normally a social burden protect their hosts against greater evils. The guest ants rise to defend their hosts against mobile raiders, greatly decreasing the probability of a raid. This co-evolutionary process maintains lesser evils when it helps prevent greater harm.
Researchers develop mathematical model for evolution of manipulated behavior, showing that an offspring's resistance to manipulation often fails to evolve if the costs are high. The study suggests that altruistic behavior in eusocial organisms, such as ants and bees, may be coerced through manipulation.
Entomologist Jack Longino identified 33 new species of predatory ants in Central America and the Caribbean. The ants were found in small patches of forest and have monster-like faces with sharp teeth and jaws. Their primitive eyes detect light, but not form images.
The program aims to study exotic invasive pests and develop sustainable approaches to counter problem organisms threatening biodiversity in central and southern Texas. Researchers will focus on native ant species, such as the fire ant, tawny crazy ant, and Cactoblastis moth, to improve competitiveness of native species.
A study using ant experiments and mathematical modeling reveals flexible resource management and characteristic responses by group-living animals. The findings suggest a regime of chaos offers more options for groups than following environmental cycles.
A study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology identifies new fungal enzymes that can break down cellulose, a key component of plant biomass. The researchers found that the fungi and bacteria in leaf-cutter ant gardens work together to convert plant biomass into energy-rich compounds.
A new peer-reviewed data paper compiles information on Belgian ants, highlighting the FORMIDABEL database with 27,642 records. The database provides insights into the indigenous and exotic ant fauna in Belgium, shedding light on their distribution patterns based on vegetation and soil types.
Researchers discovered a mutualistic relationship between ants and carnivorous pitcher plants, where ants help prevent nutrient loss to flies. The study found that ant colonies increase plant growth and capture efficiency by hunting mosquito larvae, demonstrating a novel type of nutritional interaction.
Scientists have discovered a new species of ant from the Philippines with a distinctive dark stripe across its eyes, which resembles a pirate eye patch. The function of this bizarre pigmentation pattern remains unclear, but researchers speculate it may serve as a tool to distract and confuse predators.
Researchers studied fire ants' tunnel networks to discover fundamental principles of locomotion that can be applied to robot teams working underground. The study found that ants use their antennae for both sensing and movement in confined spaces, allowing them to move quickly and easily through tunnels.
Invasive crazy ants are displacing fire ants across the southeastern US, eliminating native species and reducing biodiversity. Crazy ants outcompete fire ants for food sources and damage electrical equipment, making them a significant pest.
Ant colonies that restrain foraging except in prime conditions experience improved reproductive success. Natural selection favors regulating foraging to hold back when conditions are bad, shaping collective behavior exhibited by the entire colony.
John Heraty will study the eucharitid wasp genus Orasema, a specialized group of ant parasitoids. More than 200 species are expected to be described as part of the study, which aims to understand relationships and species boundaries.
Researchers have uncovered a large radiation of previously overlooked Neotropical ants, with 40 species described, including those that nest in clay banks. These ants use 'door-pebbles' to block their entrances and maintain a protected environment for breeding and foraging.
A new study reveals that ants alter the sugar-chemistry of flowers they visit by transmitting yeast to the nectar. This change affects subsequent pollinator visitations and may impact plant fitness. The research suggests a complex interaction between plants, yeasts, and pollinators.
Scientists construct largest ant family tree-of-life using DNA sequence data, confirming that modern ants originated between 139-158 million years ago. The study also reveals the Neotropics as a vital region for ant evolution, both preserving ancient groups and generating new species.
A team of researchers successfully replicated the behavior of a moving ant colony using miniature robots, called Alices. The robots navigated mazes by following chemical pheromone trails and directional random walks, demonstrating that efficient navigation can be achieved with minimal cognitive abilities.
A mysterious parasitoid wasp, Seleucus cuneiformis, has been found on a rare European fern sawfly, Blasticotoma filiceti. The study, published in Journal of Hymenoptera Research, reveals the unusual biology of this parasite, including its symbiotic relationship with ants, which live in symbiosis based on food for protection.
Research on the Florida carpenter ant reveals that epigenetic regulation plays a key role in distinguishing two worker castes with strikingly different behaviors and physical characteristics. Histone modifications, including those influenced by the CBP regulator, are found to correlate with gene expression levels and cognitive abilities.
Researchers have identified specific parent ants and their children in wild colonies, allowing them to study reproduction trends. The study found that only about 25% of colonies reproduce annually, with most relying on just a few successful queens.
Researchers found Asian needle ant successfully displacing Argentine ants in an urban environment, suggesting it may be the next dominant invasive species. The Asian needle ant's ability to tolerate cooler temperatures gives it a head start over Argentine ants, allowing it to reproduce and build nests earlier.