How Are Ants Useful to Humans and Pets?
WouterDespite their size, ants are an important part of our ecosystem. Their ability to excavate and turn over soil helps to improve environmental quality and promote plant growth.
Some ants also help with pest control in certain areas. They eat insects and other pest insects, and they also help to decompose dead animals.
Ants are also a good source of antioxidants. They help to reduce oxidative stress, which may help to prevent diseases. They also contain polyphenols, which are similar to orange juice, and can help prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Ants also influence important processes like seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and soil quality. Some species have developed tunnels that are hundreds of feet deep into the earth.
Other species, such as pharaoh ants, are capable of spreading pathogens. They are also able to carry a lot of weight, lifting up to fifty times their own weight.
Some species, like the Acanthogonathus trap jaw ant in Costa Rica, build a small home that requires little maintenance. Their colonies can migrate to a new twig.
Ants are also known to be good at communication. They use sound and touch to communicate with one another.
They are also a great source of fiber. They provide about 15 to 20% of the biomass on Earth. Their nutritional value varies depending on the species and the metamorphic stage.
Ants have many useful functions, from removing weeds, to decomposing dead animals, to cleaning up plants. But they’re also a threat to humans and pets.
