Can Ants Heal Their Own Wounds?
WouterConsidering the strength and longevity of the ant, one may wonder if they can heal themselves. In fact, they can heal punctures and cuts, and their legs can be repaired quickly, but they can’t regenerate lost limbs.
The researchers decided to examine the healing capabilities of the ant. They excavated six colonies. They kept the ants on sterile soil, but they also kept them in unsterile soil. They then gave the ants a choice of drinking honey water or drinking hydrogen peroxide. The researchers found that the ants that were given the hydrogen peroxide drink were significantly healthier than those who were given the honey water.
Ants do have strong internal organs, but they don’t have a sense of pain. They can detect the damage of their body wall, but they don’t have pain receptors. They try to heal punctured limbs quickly. If the wound is open, there’s an increased risk of infection.
The researchers found that lightly injured ants were more cooperative and exhibited more rescue behavior than heavily injured ants. The injured ants first tried to elicit help from nestmates. If nestmates weren’t nearby, the heavily injured ants didn’t receive help.
They also found that the ants that were lightly injured were more likely to act injured near nestmates. This shows a simple unconscious regulatory mechanism. However, the researchers aren’t sure why these ants do this. They might be removing dirt from the wound.
It’s possible that the ants are also applying an antimicrobial substance to the wounds. The Matabele ants use a substance called saliva that has antimicrobial properties. They will also lick the wound.
