How do ants clean themselves?

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Introduction

Ants exhibit a variety of cleaning behaviors to maintain hygiene and prevent infections within their colonies. These behaviors are crucial for their survival, as they help in removing contaminants and pathogens from their bodies and environment. The cleaning mechanisms range from physical grooming to the application of antimicrobial substances.

Key Insights

Allogrooming and Chemical Disinfection:
- Ants engage in allogrooming, where they clean each other to remove infectious particles. This behavior is enhanced by the application of formic acid, which acts as a chemical disinfectant to inhibit fungal growth .
Antenna Cleaning:
- Ants use specialized structures on their legs to clean their antennae, which are essential for sensory functions. The cleaning involves clamping the antenna between a notch and a spur on the leg and pulling it through, followed by cleaning the cleaning apparatus with their mouthparts .
Sanitary Care and Social Immunity:
- Ants perform sanitary care by grooming and applying antimicrobial substances to contaminated nestmates. This behavior reduces the risk of disease spread within the colony and includes risk-adjusted care to avoid superinfections .
Destructive Disinfection:
- When ants detect lethal infections in their brood, they perform destructive disinfection by biting the infected pupae and applying antimicrobial poison internally, effectively killing the pathogen and preventing its spread.
Mutualistic Cleaning Behaviors:
- In mutualistic relationships, such as with the pitcher plant Nepenthes bicalcarata, ants clean the plant's surfaces to enhance prey capture efficiency. This cleaning behavior also prevents fungal contamination, benefiting both the ants and the plant.
Seed Cleaning:
- Ants clean seeds by removing fruit pulp, which protects the seeds from fungal infections. This behavior not only involves physical cleaning but also the application of antifungal substances.
Waste Management:
- Ants manage waste by discarding it outside the nest, especially when it is contaminated with pathogens. The presence of brood enhances the hygienic responses of workers, leading to more efficient waste removal.

Conclusion

Ants employ a range of cleaning behaviors to maintain hygiene and prevent infections within their colonies. These behaviors include allogrooming with chemical disinfection, specialized antenna cleaning, sanitary care, destructive disinfection of infected brood, mutualistic cleaning with plants, seed cleaning, and efficient waste management. These strategies collectively contribute to the social immunity of ant colonies, ensuring their survival and health.