Exploding Ants Of Borneo Detonate Themselves To Protect Their Colony

[Judi Lynn]

20 April 2018, 10:47 pm EDT By Athena Yenko Tech Times

Species of ants from Southeast Asia is officially classified as Colobopsis explodens for its extraordinary capability to rip itself apart in face of threats.

These ants exterminate bigger insects by latching onto their face, tearing themselves open, and emitting yellow toxic goo. They also do this defense mechanism when they are being threatened by humans.

The species are commonly known as simply "exploding ants" until a team of researchers, headed by Alice Laciny, a Ph.D. student at the Natural History Museum in Vienna, officially classified them as Colobopsis explodens. Their study is published in the journal ZooKeys.

Exploding Ants Facts
Laciny studied the ants in the rainforests of Borneo and found a hierarchy within its colony. Not all of them are capable of the defense mechanism. The capability is exclusive to the young, sterile female ant workers or what they referred to as "the minor workers." In essence, they do not only defend themselves but the whole of their colony.

More:
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/225727/20180420/exploding-ants-of-borneo-detonate-themselves-to-protect-their-colony.htm

[dhill926]

1. Who knew...

[democratisphere]

2. Jihadist Suicide Ants.