Why Are Ants Always Busy?
WouterAlmost every species of ant works together to bring food to the colony. The workers carry food back to the nest, take care of the eggs until they hatch and protect the colony from intruders.
During the winter months, ants seek a warm place to hibernate. They construct tiny tunnels that are connected to the colony. Some anthills can tower several feet into the air. Other species build anthills that barely show on the surface of the ground.
Researchers have been able to show that many insects are not as busy as we think they are. They have found that insects like bees do not need as much work as we thought. They also have found that ants do not require as much time to complete a task as we would like them to.
A recent study by entomologists at the University of Illinois suggests that bees are not as busy as we think. They found that inactive workers are actually the top 20% of the social insect workforce. This suggests that inactive ants are not lazy and that they are a resource for the active workers.
Ants are also known to build nests in cracks and beside homes and lawns. They also construct underground chambers for food and rest.
Researchers have been able to show ants are capable of building bridges, tunnels and rafts. Ants have also been shown to use chemicals to communicate with each other. Ants have also been shown to use their mandibles to break up food.
