Ants are truly fascinating creatures. As they interact, they inspire admiration. Their intricate social systems and traditions mirror many human traits. A lesser known capability is their ability to summon help when injured during battles with opposing species and to be rescued, evacuated, and treated by friends.
In a study of Megaponera analis, an African ant species, researchers observed that these ants can call for help from nearby nestmates after an injury and initiate a coordinated evacuation and healing process that saves many injured individuals. The study was conducted by scientists from the University of Würzburg and published in Science Advances.
Erik Frank, chair of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology at the University of Würzburg, described the finding as groundbreaking for invertebrates.
Megaponera analis ants forage in the southern Sahara, preying on termites that move in groups of two hundred to five hundred. Some workers penetrate the termite tunnels to strike swiftly and disable large numbers of prey, a dangerous endeavor that leaves one to two percent of the attackers injured in encounters observed in a forest in Ivory Coast.
They call for help and receive aid
The most surprising aspect is that after combat, the injured ants are gathered by their compatriots. They emit a distress signal detectable by others through a chemical cue produced by mandibular glands, a signal that helps locate the wounded. This was explained by Frank and colleagues.
Photographs show ants carrying an imprisoned termite and a close view of the rescuers. The scent prompts nearby workers to investigate the injured, and they catch them with their mandibles. Wounded limbs may be retracted to simplify carrying, enhancing the evacuation process.
This effective rescue system has preserved many lives among the raiding parties. A biologist noted that roughly one in three injured ants would not survive without assistance.
After rescue, the injured ants receive care inside the nest and gradually relearn how to move with fewer legs. Once mobility returns, they resume foraging and defense. Some ants that were marked as injured were seen rejoining raids shortly after recovery.
A typical colony of Megaponera analis contains about a thousand individuals, with sizes ranging from six millimeters to two centimeters. If the colony conducts three to five raids daily and leaves injury marks behind, models suggest the colony can shrink by about twenty eight percent. The recovery system appears to be a worthwhile trade-off for the colony.
Frank notes that such behavior was not expected among social insects that are often outnumbered by the group. The significance lies in social cooperation that extends beyond self-preservation, even when life is not in imminent danger.
Other researchers have observed similar care in two additional ant species, though those cases typically occur only when the wounded face serious threats, such as a tunnel collapse. The current study emphasizes that these ants do not face immediate danger of losing their lives, yet their allies still come to their aid.
Biologist Jürgen Heinze of the University of Regensburg found the observed behavior highly intriguing. He noted that it is unusual for ants to care for injured members while continuing to participate in raids. He remarked that there is little known like this among ants.
Globally, there are about 16,000 ant species. These insects can lift many times their weight and display remarkable cognitive abilities. The referenced research can be explored through the Royal Society journal publication, cited as a source of the study.
Inquiries about the study were directed to the environmental department through the provided contact channels in the original publication.