Do Ants Fight Other Colonies?
WouterWhether or not ants fight other colonies is a topic of discussion. While some ants may be more likely to attack than others, ants can fight for a variety of reasons. They may be fighting to defend their nest from a takeover by an enemy colony or to protect their food storage. They may also be fighting for territory.
The term supercolony refers to a group of colonies that form a cohesive unit. These colonies are organized and are genetically stable. In addition, these ant colonies follow simple rules. A colony has a queen who runs alone, and workers who try to save brood. They also have a family structure and a strong in-group identity. These colonies are able to recognize members of their own colony, but are also willing to accept members of other colonies.
Some species of ants have colonies that cover entire landmasses. Others, like the leaf cutter ant, are highly social and engage in battles for days at a time. Those colonies are often attacked by AA ants. These ants regularly invade mature leaf-cutter ant colonies. These attacks are cataclysmic. In response, some prey ant species flee from the attack. Others stand and wait for the AA workers to arrive. They then go back into the nest.
These ants are often considered to be vicious insects. They also have very large mandibles, which they use to sever the legs of their enemy. They also have giant heads.
