How Do Ants Break Down Food?
WouterVarious forms of ants can be found in nature. Ants are omnivores, feeding on both plant and animal matter. Most types are opportunistic eaters.
They also have a specialized digestive system. Ants use enzymes to predigest food. They also have a gaster, which is a compartment that holds food particles until they can be processed by the digestive system. They also have a midgut, which is a special reservoir that absorbs energy, nutrients, and waste.
Interestingly, it’s not clear what ants actually do with the food they consume. Some workers bring the fluids to their reproductive alates while other workers feed it to larvae. They also regurgitate it back to their workers.
In this study, ants were tested on four tubes of food, each containing different sizes of food particles. The size of the particles was measured using a 0.1 mg electronic balance. The food was stored in a -20 degC freezer.
The smallest food particles were the most efficient at transporting food, but they had a relatively small number of ants per gram. The size of the smallest particle was not statistically significant, but a large food particle did have a significantly higher number of ants per gram. The smallest food particle was a cuboid, 4.0 x 4.0 x 1.0 mm, and ants spent a good deal more time cutting it than flattened food.
The best way for ants to digest food is to regurgitate it. They also use a filter, or infrabuccal pocket, to keep the larger particles from entering their digestive system.
