“…and today we’re talking about something that’s sticky. What is it?!”
Mold, grime, and disease are plagues that the human world does it’s best to keep at bay. But animals have to worry about these things too – even ants. The Red wood ant has found a true multi-purpose cleaner that they use to keep pathogens from infecting the colony. Sometimes building your house out of disinfectant is the most efficient method in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.
Description of the Red Wood Ant
- About the size of an average grain of rice, but with 100x the attitude
- Fiery red head and thorax, black abdomen – nature’s way of saying “DO NOT TOUCH”
- Covered in tiny hairs that look cute but do absolutely nothing helpful
- Six wiry legs built for scurrying into places you don’t want them
- Two big ol’ antennae that constantly twitch like it’s deep in a conspiracy theory
- Powerful mandibles that make up for their lack of upper body strength
- Can projectile-shoot formic acid, proving that even tiny creatures can be absolutely terrifying
Measure Up
Welcome to the beloved Measure Up segment. The official listener’s favorite part of the show! The part of the show when we present the animal’s size and dimension in relatable terms through a quiz that’s fun for the whole family. It’s also the part of the show that’s introduced by you when you send in audio of yourself saying, singing, or chittering the words Measure Up into ldtaxonomy at gmail dot com.
Worker Length
4 to 9 millimeters (0.16 to 0.35 inches) in length
- 11,835 go into the tallest redwood
- 3.2 go into a candy corn
- 85 go into a lady in red fern
Queen Length
9 to 12 millimeters (0.35 to 0.47 inches)
- 150 go into Mary Queen of Scots
- 180 go into Queen Elizabeth II
- 165 go into Queen Victoria
Fast Facts about the Red Wood Ant
- Range: Found across Europe and parts of Asia, ruining hikes everywhere
- Habitat: Loves forests, especially near rotting logs, because they enjoy a rustic, woodland aesthetic
- Diet: Omnivorous – munches on dead insects, honeydew from aphids, and whatever crumbs humans drop
- Mating Behavior: Winged males and females take part in a massive airborne speed-dating event known as the nuptial flight, after which the males die, proving that love is pain
- Social Behavior: Lives in massive colonies with a strict caste system – everyone has their role that they’re born into. You gotta do what you gotta do.
- Predators: Birds, bears, and the occasional human who just sat in the wrong place at the wrong time
- Lifespan: Workers live a few months, but the queen can live over 15 years – because of course she can
- Fun Fact: They herd aphids like tiny, six-legged cattle in order to milk them for honeydew, making them nature’s smallest (and most tyrannical) farmers
Major Fact: Clean Builder
Formic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in many plants and animals, including ants. Chemically known as methanoic acid. In ants, formic acid is produced in their venom glands and used as a defense mechanism against predators and pathogens.
The formic acid defense mechanism in Red Wood Ants works through a specialized gland located at the tip of their abdomen, called the acidopore. Here’s how it functions:
Spraying Mechanism: When threatened, the ant will lift its abdomen and aim it towards the threat. The acidopore, which can be opened like a nozzle, sprays or squirts formic acid out. This action can be quite accurate, allowing the ant to target predators or perceived threats effectively.
Deterrence. Formic acid serves as a deterrent because of its irritating properties. It can cause discomfort or pain if it contacts the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes of predators or humans, making the ants less appealing to eat or disturb.
Antiseptic. Interestingly, formic acid also has antiseptic properties, which might help in cleaning wounds or preventing infections in the ant colony.
Communication. Beyond defense, formic acid can also play a role in communication within the colony. For example, it might mark trails or signal alarms to other ants about danger.
Environmental Interaction. When sprayed, the acid can also affect the environment around the ant, potentially warning other insects or altering the local chemistry temporarily to deter predators or competitors.
It has antimicrobial properties in combination with plant resin.
Wood ants use resin from coniferous trees in their nests for multiple purposes. The resin offers structural soundness, predator defense, and antimicrobial properties when mixed with the ants’ formic acid. It helps maintain the health of the colony by reducing microbial growth and pathogens. Resin also adds structural integrity, waterproofing, and weather resistance to the nest. It acts as a barrier against intruders and predators while providing camouflage.
Ending: So take a nuptial flight, farm your aphids, and spray your tummy toxins all over your enemies like the red wood ants here in LDT.