How Heavy Are Ants?
Wouterants are tiny, yet they’re capable of lifting thousands of times more weight than they weigh. In fact, they could lift a quarter gram of paper clip.
While there’s no definitive answer to how heavy are ants, a new study shows that their energy output is actually pretty impressive. They can lift 4500 kg, which is equivalent to running 80 km per hour. This is a remarkable feat considering their tiny size.
Another ant-related achievement is their exoskeleton, which is similar to our own in structure. The exoskeleton acts as an extra layer of protection to the body. It also assists with joint-strength in the neck and jaw.
The micro structure of ants’ neck enables them to lift heavyweights. In fact, their neck supports weight 1000 times more than their bodies.
Another feat is their ability to lift up to 50 times their own weight. This is due to their small size and complicated surface area.
In order to get a better idea of how heavy are ants, researchers used a number of extreme methods. They used a compact disc centrifuge to simulate the forces the ants would experience when lifting a heavy load. They also glued their heads to a disc and ran it around a centrifuge.
The smallest ants weigh only a fraction of a milligram, while the largest species are capable of weighing up to 150 milligrams.
There are actually more than 13,000 different species of ants in the world, with some of the more popular ones being tree-dwelling. They’re especially common in arid regions. They are also known for their foraging abilities, as they can travel long distances for food.
