Weaver Ants

Hi, friends,
today I will post a photo about ants, weaver ants.

I met this ant in the trees behind my house. they are working together looking for food.

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Weaver ants vary in color from reddish to yellowish-brown dependent on the species. Oecophylla smaragdina found in Australia often has bright green gasters. Weaver ants are highly territorial and workers aggressively defend their territories against intruders. Because they prey on insects harmful to their host trees, weaver ants are sometimes used by indigenous farmers, particularly in southeast Asia, as natural biocontrol agents against agricultural pests. Although weaver ants lack a functional sting they can inflict painful bites and often spray formic acid directly at the bite wound resulting in intense discomfort.

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The weaver ant's ability to build capacious nests from living leaves has undeniably contributed to their ecological success. The first phase in nest construction involves workers surveying potential nesting leaves by pulling on the edges with their mandibles. When a few ants have successfully bent a leaf onto itself or drawn its edge toward another, other workers nearby join the effort. The probability of a worker joining the concerted effort is dependent on the size of the group, with workers showing a higher probability of joining when the group size is large. When the span between two leaves is beyond the reach of a single ant, workers form chains with their bodies by grasping one another's petiole (waist).

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As always, please tell me about my photos, so I can learn more from you. thank you


Photo by: https://hive.blog/@suhaimich Additional Info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaver_ant