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107 results for "ants"
Harvester ants in the desert regularly visit the nests of much smaller ant species for what scientists are calling "spa treatments." It's the first time researchers have documented this kind of helpful relationship between two different ant species.
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Scientists discovered cone ants in Arizona climbing onto harvester ants three times their size to groom them, marking the first known "cleaner ant" species. The behavior mirrors cleaner fish in the ocean, but researchers are still puzzled about exactly how both species benefit.
Scientists confirmed a Japanese ant species where every single individual is a queen who conquers other colonies and clones herself. This marks the first known ant species to completely eliminate both males and workers.
Scientists spotted tiny ants grooming larger harvester ants in Arizona, mirroring the famous "cleaning stations" where fish help each other on coral reefs. This surprising behavior could reveal a whole new way ants cooperate in nature.
A curious boy spotted something odd near an ant nest in his backyard, and his discovery just challenged what scientists thought they knew about ants for over a century. Thanks to Hugo Deans and his entomologist dad, we now understand a completely new way that ants, oak trees, and wasps work together in nature.
Scientists have discovered an ant queen running one of nature's strangest genetic systems. She produces her own queen daughters, creates hybrid workers, and even clones males from a different species to mate with future generations.
In the Arizona desert, tiny cone ants climb onto much larger harvester ants to groom them, just like cleaner fish do in the ocean. This adorable discovery reveals a surprisingly cooperative relationship between two very different ant species.
Scientists discovered a species of bull ant that uses the moon to navigate in complete darkness, compensating for its movement across the sky like ancient sailors used the North Star. The finding reveals nature has even more clever navigation tricks than we realized.
Scientists discovered caterpillars produce complex rhythms previously only found in primates to convince ants to adopt them. The tiny insects mastered a rare "double meter" beat that mimics queen ant vibrations.
Scientists discovered how caterpillars learn to "speak" ant language using complex rhythms to gain shelter in ant colonies. It's one of the first times this level of acoustic communication has been found in insects.
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Some butterfly caterpillars have learned to vibrate in complex rhythmic patterns that match their ant caretakers, allowing them to get adopted and protected. Scientists discovered these tiny insects use precise timing similar to human music to communicate in the dark, crowded world of ant nests.
Writer Terry Tempest Williams watched an ant carry a flower petal across the Utah desert for 30 minutes, helped by fellow ants at every obstacle. The moment inspired her new book about finding grace in ordinary nature.
Scientists in Australia discovered a spider that builds a spring-loaded silk trap designed to fling aggressive ants into its web at forces 15 times stronger than fighter pilots experience. The incredible hunting method appears to target just one ant species.
A once-vanished ant species is being reintroduced to Shropshire woodlands, bringing new life to struggling ecosystems. These tiny engineers could help restore balance to forests across England.
Scientists discovered that caffeinated ants learn faster and find food more efficiently, cutting travel time by up to 38%. This surprising finding could transform how we tackle one of the world's costliest invasive species.
Baby caterpillars have cracked the code to living like royalty inside ant colonies by perfectly copying the queen's vibrations. Scientists discovered these tiny tricksters use complex rhythmic patterns never before seen outside primates.
Scientists in Australia discovered a spider that builds spring-loaded traps to launch aggressive ants at forces five times what fighter pilots endure. The ballista spider's hunting method has never been seen before and could unlock secrets about extreme force survival.
A centuries-old chutney made from red weaver ants in eastern India just earned official recognition for its cultural importance. The fiery condiment showcases how Indigenous communities have practiced sustainable, nutritious eating long before it became trendy.
Scientists in Australia discovered a spider that uses a silk catapult to fling aggressive tree ants into its web with forces 15 times stronger than fighter pilots experience. The ballista spider's medieval weapon-inspired hunting technique is one of the most specialized prey-capture systems ever documented in nature.
Scientists created a free digital library with 3D X-ray images of nearly 2,200 ants from 792 species, making decades of research accessible to anyone with internet access. The breakthrough scanning technique took just one week instead of six years.
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