How Heavy Can Ants Carry?
WouterDepending on the type of ant, a single ant can lift between 10 and 50 times its own weight. This is a great feat of strength that is rarely seen in nature.
Ants are not only extremely strong, they are also quite fast. An average ant can run at 300 meters per hour, which is nearly the speed of a human. And, because ants are small, they have a lot of muscle. Their muscles are also bigger and thicker than those in most other animals. They also have sticky pads on their feet that are designed to clean themselves.
Ants are also known for their agility. They can move larger pieces of food as a group. And they have been known to carry objects up to 20 times their weight.
There are other insects and spiders that carry large items. Some dung beetles have been known to do it. And, there are social spiders and ants that are known to do it.
However, most insects and spiders can only carry a fraction of their body weight. For example, a 16 ounce bag of chips requires more ants than the ants carrying a one gram paper clip. The biggest disadvantage is that carrying large objects isn’t always about muscle strength. It’s more about grip.
The weight of an ant is about 25 milligrams. This is similar to the weight of a full-grown cow, which weighs 180 pounds. That’s not very much in comparison to a human, which weighs 220 pounds.
