Why Do Ants Carry Dead Insects?

To understand why ants do certain things, it's necessary to know the basics of their being. Here are the most important characteristics of ants:

• Anatomy: Their body is divided into three parts: head, metasoma (chest) and mesosoma (abdomen). On the head they contain a pair of antennae, compound eyes and a chewing mouth apparatus. Six legs emerge from the thorax and, only in sexed individuals, two pairs of wings.
• Metamorphosis: when an ant egg hatches, larvae without legs or heads emerge from it. It increases in size and transforms into immobile pupae. Then, they undergo a series of profound changes until they become adults.
• Anthills: almost all types of ants form large communities that carry out collective activities. To do this, they build a series of tunnels and rooms, usually on the ground or in trees. There, they take care of the larvae and store food.
• Breeds: in the same anthill there are three types of ants: workers, drones and a single queen. The queen and the drones are dedicated to reproduction, while the workers carry out all the tasks of the colony: harvesting, caring for the larvae, cleaning and defense.
• Pheromones: Ants have a complex communication system based on pheromones (hormones). Thanks to that, they can warn each other about a danger, mark the way to find food and more.

Ants are incredibly adaptive, which is why they have been able to colonize almost every landmass on Earth. Their ability to modify habitats, tap into resources, and defend themselves from predators has made them one of the most successful groups of insects.

Unfortunately, there is not one answer to this question. This is due to the fact that there are different types of ants with different diets. Their diet will depend on their species and the environment they live in. Consequently, we are going to show you the different types of ants according to their diet. They are as follows:

• Granivorous ants
• Predatory ants
• Farmer ants
• Grazing ants
• Mutual ants

What do granivorous ants eat?

Granivorous ants are those that feed on seeds. To do this, they collect large amounts of seeds and transport it long distances to their nest. Once there, they store the seeds in their anthill and protect them from fungus.

All of these ants are essential for seed dispersal, as a good amount of the seeds they bury will sprout and become plants. Many important species of the genera Messor and Goniomma participate in this important work.

Furthermore, granivorous ants have a symbiotic relationship with their ecosystem. By moving seeds, they inadvertently contribute to the regeneration of plant life, which in turn supports other wildlife within their habitat.

What predatory ants eat

Many ants are predators. The collecting workers are dedicated to hunting insects or other arthropods. So if you've wondered why ants carry other dead insects, this is the reason. Predatory ants feed off of them. In fact, some ants can even hunt larger animals, such as lizards or small mice. Due to their danger, they usually present the color red as a warning sign for their potential prey. So if you ever wondered what red ants eat, that's the answer.

A good example of carnivorous ants are the Ecitoninae and Dorylinae subfamilies, known as soldier ants. These insects form nomadic groups that move continuously. In their path, they hunt the small animals that are found. However, they usually alternate their travels with sedentary phases in which the queen lays large amounts of eggs.

It should be noted that these ants play a vital role in controlling the population of other insects, thereby maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Their hunting activities can significantly influence the composition of local insect populations.

What farm ants eat

Many species of ants are mushroom farmers. They are dedicated to collecting different types of organic matter, especially leaves. In the anthill, other workers chew the leaves to mix them with their saliva and leave them in their "garden". The goal is to grow mushrooms and then eat them.

Some examples of ants that grow mushrooms are the genera Atta and Acromyrmex, known as leaf cutter ants.

This agricultural practice not only sustains the colony but also enriches the soil, promoting the growth of various plant species. This mutual relationship enhances biodiversity within their environment, showcasing the intricate connections in nature.

What grazing ants eat

Many ants graze on other arthropods of the Homoptera order, such as aphids or aphids. They gather them in groups and defend them from their predators in exchange for a very succulent food: honey drops. These are sugary substances from the sap of plants that aphids expel through the anus.

Some ants, such as Camponotus inflatus, collect leaves full of honey drops and carry them to the anthill. There, caretaker ants use them to feed other workers. This is the "honey pot" ants, whose abdomen is compliant and becomes a kind of pot that they fill with honey. This food is a food reserve for the entire colony.

Image: ca.wikipedia.org

Interestingly, this relationship is an example of mutualism, where both ants and aphids benefit from each other's presence. Such interactions highlight the complexity and interdependence of life forms within ecosystems.

What mutualistic ants eat

Lastly, we cannot forget about mutualistic ants. These are insects that live inside the spines of some plants, such as acacia trees ( Acacia spp.). These provide them with food and shelter in exchange for defending them from herbivorous animals. The Pseudomyrmex ants can fulfill this function very well.

Among the foods plants provide to ants are "Beltian bodies," some reddish balls that appear at the tips of the leaves. In addition, these plants often offer a nutritious extrafloral nectar that they secrete through the leaves.

This type of symbiosis is crucial for the survival of both ants and their host plants, demonstrating nature's intricate balance. By protecting these plants, ants ensure their own food supply, which in turn supports the plant's growth and reproduction.

Now that we know what ants eat, let's answer some of the most common questions about these eusocial insects. These are just some of many fun facts about them.

Why are all worker ants female?

As we already know, queens are dedicated to laying eggs. These can be of two types: fertilized by males (diploid) or unfertilized (haploid). Haploid eggs give rise to drones or male ants, whose sole mission is to fertilize the queen for the production of diploid eggs. These give rise to female ants that can be workers or new queens.

Interestingly, this reproductive strategy ensures genetic diversity within the colony, which can enhance the resilience of ants to various environmental changes and threats.

What differentiates worker ants from the queen?

Worker ants receive a regular diet, whereas the queen receives a diet very rich in protein. This difference in feeding activates or inactivates certain genes, causing differences in the development of the larvae. As a result, they will have a different shape and behavior. This is an example of epigenetics.

Why are there ants with wings?

Only new queens and drones have wings. The new queens are winged because they leave the colony to form a new one. Outside they are paired with a drone, also winged, and carry out the so-called "nuptial flight". During this process copulation takes place. Afterwards, the queen searches for a place to hibernate. Once there, he loses his wings and builds a small anthill where he lays his eggs. These will give rise to the first workers of the new colony.

Why don't worker ants lay eggs?

In some species, workers are born with atrophied ovaries. However, there are species in which sterility is reversible. In these cases, it is the queen who controls the sterility of the workers through the secretion of inhibitory hormones. In fact, workers who are away from the queen's influence for a time may lay unfertilized eggs, resulting in drones.

This hormonal control mechanism ensures that the colony's reproductive efforts are centralized, preventing any disorganization within the group.

Can there be different types of workers?

Some species have workers of different sizes that fulfill different functions. In these cases, we say that there are subclasses. Usually, the largest are soldiers who defend the colony. The rest can distribute the work between collectors and "housewives".

In other species all workers are the same. However, there is also a deal at work. The youngest ants are dedicated to the internal work of the colony, while the oldest ants go outside to collect.

This division of labor is not merely a matter of size or age; it reflects the colony's sophisticated organizational structure, which optimizes efficiency and productivity.

Do ants eat their dead?

Not only do we see ants carrying other dead insects, but sometimes we see ants carrying other ants. So it's common to ask ourselves whether they eat their dead. The answer is no.

Although predatory ants eat other insects and may even hunt other species of ants, they do not eat their own dead ants. When we see them carrying an ant back to their anthill it is because this ant is simply injured, not dead. However, if they are carrying an ant out of their anthill, this is because that ant has died. Ants will carry their dead out of their nesting area as a sanitary measure to prevent diseases or infection from spreading throughout the colony. This social behavior is called necrophoresis.

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