How Do Ants Carry Heavy Things?
WouterUnlike larger animals, ants don’t need to expend a lot of muscle to lift heavy things. Their muscles are also thicker than those of larger animals.
It’s not surprising then that ants can lift objects 10 to 50 times their own weight. They also have a surprisingly large cross-sectional area, which allows them to apply more force to larger loads.
Using computer simulations, researchers have examined the behavior of ants carrying objects of various sizes. One of the larger objects was a VW Beetle with five men inside. Researchers used video footage to build models of the ant’s motions. They also tested the model by setting up a barrier with a narrow hole.
One of the most important characteristics of an ant is its exoskeleton. The outermost part of the body is packed with muscles that enable ants to carry heavy loads. The body has three pairs of legs that have hooked claws. It also has a pronotum, or neck, that is designed to assist with shouldering large loads.
Ants also have a number of other impressive feats. For instance, ants can run 800 times their body length in a minute. It’s also said that an ant can lift up to 20 times its own weight.
They can also build structures out of sticks, which is not only impressive, but also a clever trick. For example, an ant can carry an object eight centimeters in diameter. This is by no means a small feat, considering that in nature, this would be impossible.
