How Do Ants Help Injured Ants?

Despite the fact that ants are predators and eat insects and other small organisms, they are capable of caring for wounds. Indeed, they have been shown to heal punctures, clean wounds and even apply antibiotics. This feat is a first for the animal kingdom.

A study by researchers at the Julius Maximilian University of Wurzburg, Germany, showed that African Matabele ants, a species of termite-hunting ants, care for their injured comrades. They lick the wounds of injured nestmates for several minutes and may even apply antibiotics.

It is possible that ants also heal wounds by removing dirt and debris from them. This is not only beneficial to the ant, but also to the nest. It also reduces mortality rates.

During the course of Dr Frank’s research, he noticed that some ants were more willing to help than others. He noticed that seriously injured ants would flail around instead of cooperating, while lightly injured ants would slow down and make sure to get noticed. This is probably due to the fact that they would be left behind if they weren’t saved.

The ants also had a complex system of diagnosing injuries. A “helping” pheromone was emitted when an injured ant was found, and other ants would rush to help. They also would carry the injured ant back to the nest.

It’s unclear why ants would care about a wound, but it could be for the same reasons that humans would care about it. The benefit is marginal.