How Do Ants Take Away Their Dead?
WouterWhether you are living in a home or in an urban environment, you may wonder how ants take away their dead. While this practice is not as well known as human burial practices, it is still an interesting one.
Ants are social insects that live in huge colonies. They eat fruits, insects, and sap. They also take advantage of the resources available to them, such as fertile soil and tiny leaf cut-offs.
However, when one ant dies, the other ants do not immediately take him/her away. The dead ants are carried to a midden, a place where they can be buried. This is similar to a garbage pile in our society.
When ants die, they release chemicals that signal death. These chemicals include oleic acid, dimethyl trisulfide, and mandibular gland secretions. These chemicals are released from the body of the dead ant, but they do not produce the smell of a living ant. These are released in the ant’s body after two days of death.
When a worker ant dies, the worker ants are then sent to a midden to bury him. Workers prefer protein that is produced by dead insects and other insects. They may also use the dead bodies as emergency food.
When ants die, they do not mourn the death of their comrades. In fact, they do not have a concept of an afterlife. They carry their dead comrades to a midden for practical reasons. This process helps them to keep their nest clean and safe. They also do not cannibalize their dead comrades.
