Ants Produce Own Armour to Fight! #mieren #ameisen #ants #antsofinstagram #hormigas #fourmi #fourmis #naturephotography #naturelover #macroinsect #insects_macro #bugs #insects #queenant #insectsofinstagram #fauna #myrmecology #entomology #formicidae #antsofcanada #downtheanthill #canadianantshop #canadaantcolony #atta #leafcutterants #armour #educational #science #antwars

Transcript:

Giant leafcutter ants and Spiny leafcutter ants engaged in an evolutionary arms race.

While giant leafcutter ant soldiers are developing stronger metal infused jaws, spiny leafcutter ants are developing the first insect plate metal armor.

Leafcutter ants can only eat a specific fungus they grow in their gardens on chewed up leaves. Colonies over a million workers can defoliate entire trees, and fight to keep control over the trees within their territory.

Giant leafcutters, Atta cephalotes, have metal infused jaws. By lining their teeth with zinc, they create sharp blades to cut down any enemies. Their teeth are strong enough to rip through human flesh and bite through the bodies of competing ants.

In response, spiny leafcutter ants, Acromyrmex echinatior, developed metal armor; a thin layer of magnesium covers their bodies. This study raised spiny leafcutter ants with or without magnesium to create armored and unarmored ants. Spiny leafcutters with no armor lost most of their fights against giant leafcutter ants, but armored spiny leafcutters won every time.