‘Antibiotics brewed by ants’. In order to keep fungal pathogens at bay in their crowded homes, wood ants mix potions to create a powerful protective elixir for their nest and their young.
Makes sense, right? Humans mix chemicals all the time to make medicines, household cleaners, and other health and wellness products. But wood ants (Formica paralugubris) have apparently been at it for millions of years longer than us.
In a study published in Ecology and Evolution, researchers from Switzerland, at the University of Lausanne and University of Neuchâtel, discovered that wood ants know about the natural antibiotic properties of tree. Moreover, they use another ingredient that they secrete themselves to mix up an effective antibiotic to protect their colonies. So, add Chemistry to ants amazing feats.
There are about 10,000 species of ants on the planet, ants are not hard to find. As social insects, ants live in groups underground, in hills, and in trees. Some ants, like army ants, live on the move. Ants can live in enormous, networked colonies, where queens and young are tended and wingless female worker bees manage the colony. Male ants do not enjoy a long lifespan—they mate with the queen and usually die shortly after.
The technicians at pestcontrol.me.uk are constantly updating their knowledge of pest behaviour. As a result, our professionals have a head start when it comes to pest control.
Antibiotics brewed by Ants: Pest control in the UK
In the UK, the Black Garden Ant, which is actually very dark brown, is the commonest house invader.
All ants have three main divisions of the body (head, thorax, abdomen). The distinct sections are separated by very narrow waists. In addition, Black Garden Ants have a sharp elbow joint in their antennae.
Ants are highly organised social insects. Initially, it is the foraging worker ants that invade buildings in search of food. These ants are from 3 to 5mm in length. They are attracted to sweet foodstuffs which they take back to the nest to feed to the larvae and queen.
The so-called ‘ant’s eggs’ sold for aquaria fish are actually the pupae. Flying ants are the reproductive males and females. These mating ants are winged and have a nuptial swarming flight during only a few days in July or August. Mating takes place in the air and the female then seeks out a nest site where she stays for the winter, laying eggs the following spring in order to start up a new colony.
‘Antibiotics brewed by ants’. In conclusion, the pestcontrol.me.uk technicians are experienced in the control of ant infestations. Contact us for an effective and discreet service.
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