How do ants carry their injured back to the colony?

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Ant Rescue Behavior: How Ants Carry Their Injured Back to the Colony

Introduction to Ant Rescue Behavior

Ants are known for their complex social structures and cooperative behaviors. Among these behaviors, the rescue of injured nestmates is particularly fascinating. This article explores how certain ant species, particularly the termite-hunting Megaponera analis, carry their injured back to the colony, ensuring their survival and the overall health of the colony.

Mechanisms of Rescue: Chemical Signals and Physical Transport

Chemical SOS Signals

Injured ants of the species Megaponera analis release specific chemical signals to call for help. These signals include compounds such as dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide, which are produced in the mandibular glands of the injured ants. These chemicals trigger a rescue response from their nestmates, prompting them to carry the injured ants back to the nest .

Physical Transport

Once the chemical signal is detected, healthy ants respond by physically carrying the injured ants back to the nest. The injured ants often assume a fetal position, pulling in their legs to facilitate easier transport. This behavior ensures that the injured ants, who may have lost limbs or have termites clinging to them, are safely returned to the nest where they can recover .

Benefits of Rescue Behavior

Reduced Mortality and Increased Colony Size

The rescue behavior significantly reduces the mortality rate of injured ants. Studies have shown that without assistance, approximately 32% of injured ants die during the return journey to the nest. However, with the help of their nestmates, this mortality rate drops dramatically. This behavior not only saves individual ants but also contributes to a larger and more robust colony. Modeling studies predict that colonies practicing rescue behavior can be up to 28.7% larger than those that do not .

Recovery and Reintegration

Once back in the nest, injured ants receive further care through intense allogrooming, which helps to clean and treat their wounds. This treatment is crucial as it reduces the risk of infection, which can increase mortality from 10% to 80% within 24 hours if left untreated. Remarkably, even ants that have lost limbs can adapt and regain functionality, allowing them to participate in future raids and contribute to the colony's activities .

Evolutionary Significance

Adaptive Value

The rescue behavior of Megaponera analis is an evolutionary adaptation that has developed in response to the high risks associated with hunting highly defensive prey like termites. By rescuing and treating their injured, these ants can maintain a larger and more effective workforce, which is essential for their survival and success as a species .

Selective Help

Interestingly, the ants exhibit selective help, focusing on lightly injured individuals who have a higher chance of recovery. Heavily injured ants, such as those that have lost multiple extremities, are often not rescued, as their chances of survival and reintegration into the colony are minimal. This selective behavior ensures that the colony's resources are used efficiently.

Conclusion

The rescue behavior of Megaponera analis ants is a remarkable example of social cooperation and evolutionary adaptation. Through chemical signaling and physical transport, these ants ensure the survival of their injured nestmates, thereby enhancing the overall health and size of the colony. This behavior not only highlights the complexity of ant societies but also provides insights into the evolutionary pressures that shape such cooperative behaviors.