How Much Does Ants Lift?
WouterDespite the small size of ants, they are known for their mighty feats of strength. In fact, leafcutter ants are the strongest of the lot, capable of carrying a whopping 9,000 pounds (4,082 kg) of weight. They use their powerful jaws to hoist things up. They can also close their jaws at over 100 miles per hour.
One of the simplest ways to lift a heavyweight is by wrapping it in a piece of plastic. A similar method is employed by many insects, including flies. This enables ants to lift large loads while conserving their muscle power.
Another trick is to unfurl their feet. This increases surface tension, thus decreasing adhesion. It also enhances the body-to-payload ratio. The foot of a weaver ant, for example, features tiny wet pads.
The micro-computed tomography technique was used to create a 3D model of the ant’s neck joint. It has many interesting microstructures. While this may not tell you much about ants’ weight-lifting capabilities, it does point to ants’ ability to lift the ant-sized fungus it is carrying.
A related ant-lifting feat is the way ants roll around piles of excrement. The ants may be gross, but they are still impressive. Another trick is to unfurl their feet to improve the body-to-payload ratio. Using micro-CT tomography, ants were also found to be capable of navigating around a miniature centrifuge.
The secret to ants’ strength lies in their complex surface area to volume ratio. Their muscles are also thicker and larger than those of most mammals, giving them a leg up on their larger kinetoplasties. Their necks are also a major component, with micro-computed tomography imaging showing that their necks are able to withstand forces up to 5,000 times the ant’s average body weight.
