How Ants Survive Floods?

There are many kind of species of ants; and not all live underground, some that do employ remarkable flood-survival techniques says The New York Times. And according to the ant specialist Dr. Edward O. Wilson and Bert Holldobler “ tropical forest ants react to as little as a single drop of water placed in the nest entrance by making alarm runs through the nest, which often end at alternate entrances.” Ants use odor trails to lead nest mates into the unobstructed entrance galleries and sometimes out of the nest altogether. In no more than 30 seconds, they are able to mobilize most of the colony.

And in the South Western United States and Northern South America, reports The Times, certain fire ants “move up through the nests to ground level, form large masses that include adults, the queen and her brood, and float on the rising waters. 

Many survive . . . The raft eventually anchors itself on grass or bushes, and the survivors may return to the nest when the waters recede.” When ants is drowned in a flood, it may appear to be dead. However, if the water can evaporate and there is enough oxygen flowing through these holes, the ant can miraculously come back to life.

By: Bob Hansler