How Hot Can Fire Ants Survive?
WouterDespite being small and dark reddish brown in color, fire ants are notoriously painful stingers. They can survive extreme weather conditions, but can’t withstand freezing soil. Despite this, they are still active year-round, especially during the summer months.
One interesting aspect of the ant population is their dispersal. Unlike most other insects, they can move to a warmer climate. In fact, in the United States, more than half of the crawlies live between Massachusetts and North Carolina. As a result, scientists have been trying to force out warmer air over small patches of forest.
However, scientists are still trying to figure out how heat affects ant communities. One ant species, the red imported fire ant, is able to survive extremely hot conditions. Another, the black carpenter ant, is known to live under sand dunes.
Some ants also have bacterial endosymbionts that provide them with nutritional functions and allow them to survive in harsh conditions. However, the ants’ bodies can only withstand temperature extremes for a short time before they become unresponsive.
One study found that fire ants can survive temperatures of up to 96 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, fire ants may even find warmer microhabitats than predicted. In other words, they may be able to live farther north than expected.
However, the ant has many other ecological functions. For example, they pollinate plants, decompose soil, and distribute seeds. In addition, they can survive in cars. They even have underground cemeteries.
