How Heavy Can Ants Hold?
WouterUntil recently, scientists believed that ants could carry a load 1,000 times their own weight. The neck of the common American field ant can bear pressures of up to 5,000 times its own weight.
The researchers reported their findings in the Journal of Biomechanics. They used a specially-designed centrifuge to measure the force needed to deform the neck of an ant. The ants were then imaged using a micro-CT scanner.
The microstructure of the folds on the ant’s neck provides support for large loads. It is the same microstructure used by microscope slides. It also provides an interface for the ant’s head.
Unlike other animals, ants’ muscles have a large cross-sectional area, giving them the ability to produce more force per pound. This is a factor that also contributes to their ability to carry more than their own weight.
The neck of an ant is also unusual because it is very flexible and stiff. Its surface has a microstructure of bumps and folds that increase its surface tension and reduce adhesion. The ants’ neck can bear pressures of up to 5,000 pounds.
Another factor that contributes to ants’ lifting ability is their unique interface between soft and hard materials. It allows them to shoulder a load with less effort. The researchers hope that this unique structure will eventually lead to improved robotic arms.
The researchers found that ants are capable of lifting loads that are 20 to 50 times their own weight. They also discovered that the neck of the ant is capable of absorbing pressures of up to 3,400 to 5,000 times its own weight.
