Do Ants Need Sleep?
WouterUnlike humans, ants do not need a bedroom to sleep. They are mainly found below the ground and sleep in small groups or clusters. They are also active at all times. Some ants are nocturnal and may sleep outside during the day.
Some ants even sleep inside their nests. They may also sleep on the undersides of branches or leaves. Typically, the nest is below ground level and has chambers ranging from small to large. This allows them to sleep in relative safety. The nest is also usually warmer and hidden from predators.
Workers tend to sleep in smaller groups, often just a few ants. They take short naps, typically less than a minute each. These naps are also called power naps. A study conducted by the University of South Florida revealed that workers take more than 250 one-minute naps in a single day.
The length of ant sleep varies within colonies. In general, most ants sleep three or four days a week. They also nap during the winter months.
Queen ants sleep more than workers. They also take longer naps, typically six minutes long. They may also attend night time gala dinners. During these times, they are the most rested caste in the colony. They lay up to 300,000 eggs a day. They can also live up to fifteen years.
In addition to sleeping, ants also dream. Ants dream about laying eggs, collecting food, and protecting the colony. They also do other interesting things like catching flies and flying away in search of food.
