How Much Does an Ant Weight?
WouterAmong the many insects that live on Earth, ants are among the most interesting. Their bodies are relatively small, but they carry loads that are much larger than their size would indicate.
In fact, ants have been shown to lift objects many times their own weight. One study claims that they can lift up to 50 times their own weight. However, the real question is, how much does an ant weigh?
The answer to this question has varied by researcher. One study claims that an ant weighs only a few milligrams. Another claims that ants can carry more than 100 times their weight. Other researchers have guessed ant weight by the payload of leaves, or by the payload of ants’ prey.
One of the smallest ant species weighs only a few milligrams, while the smallest known ant species is the Pharaoh ant. The largest known ant species, the Bullet Ant, can lift up to two inches.
A study in 2014 claims that the neck joint of an American field ant can support 5,000 times its weight. The ant’s muscles are much thicker than those of a human. This helps them to carry and lift heavy loads.
Another study claims that the average ant’s brain is nearly quarter of its weight. The ant’s overall function is to serve its colony.
While scientists have focused on the bigger things, ants have been overlooked. This study estimates that there are more than a million trillion ants on Earth. The weight of all these ants is more than the combined weight of all humans on Earth.
