Why Can’t Ants Get Sick?
WouterUnlike humans, ants are very good at keeping disease at bay. They have developed elaborate ways of doing this.
One way they do this is by grooming each other. Another is by bringing pathogens to food and then killing them. The leafcutter ant, for example, carries bacteria on its skin that helps to kill off harmful fungi.
Ants also have a remarkable sense of smell. This allows them to detect and scout the environment. In the wild, some species do not have eyes, so they rely more on their antennae and legs.
Aside from the obvious pheromones, ants also have a compound eye. This is a multi-lens eye that lets them detect things far away. They also have powerful mandibles that break up food.
Ants have also been found to carry bacteria on their skin and mandibles. They may also carry germs on their feet. These germs can also be picked up from the soil where they live.
Ants may also carry disease-causing microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Some of these microorganisms have other natural functions, such as producing antibiotics. Ants may also bring these microorganisms into food establishments.
In some cultures, ants are eaten as delicacies. But this practice has caused some people to get sick. For example, in Australia, Aboriginal tribes consume honey pot ants.
In fact, scientists have found that ants can carry disease-causing microorganisms into food establishments. This is because they live in close quarters with other ants and are at risk of infection.
