How Can Ants Regrow Legs?
WouterAmong the many wonders of nature, ants are known for their unique ability to regrow legs. They do so with relative ease.
During a fight, ants can lose a leg. But these insects can still fight. They will help wounded comrades back to the nest. Some species also dress their wounds. The Matabele ant is known to heal minor wounds.
When an ant is injured, ants lick the wound with their saliva to help prevent infection. The saliva has antimicrobial properties that protect against infection.
When an ant has an injured leg, ants can pull it out of the body to make it easier to carry. The ants will also carry the injured comrade back to the nest.
In other cases, ants will also use wet suction cups to pull a limb out of the body. This is called stridulation.
An injured ant will need nursing ants to help it heal. In some cases, ants will also regrow lost brain tissue. But all insects cannot regenerate legs.
Scientists are now investigating how ants heal wounds. They have discovered chemical compounds in the mandibular glands. These compounds are thought to help the ant regrow its lost brain tissue.
These findings have the potential to help people who are struggling to regrow limbs after amputation. Stem cell implants can also be used to induce limb regeneration in adult humans.
Ants have a long lifespan. They have six legs, which are made up of tibia, femur and tarsus. Ants also have a thorax, a section of the body that is located before the abdomen.
