Carpenter ants exhibit remarkable behavior when caring for their injured colony members, employing amputation as a strategy to enhance survival rates. A recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B highlights this unique adaptation, showcasing how these insects prioritize the health of their colony.
This research was led by Dr. Erik Frank, a biologist at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, who heads a junior research group supported by the Emmy Noether Programme of the German Research Foundation. The study focuses on the species Camponotus maculatus, predominantly found in Africa. The findings illustrate that carpenter ants promptly amputate the legs of injured peers at shoulder height, utilizing their strong mandibles to bite off the damaged limb.
Interestingly, the decision to amputate does not depend on whether the wound is infected or the age of the injury. As Juan Jose Lagos-Oviedo, a doctoral student and co-author of the study, explains, “The ants do not have the luxury of waiting for an infection to develop. Once the infection becomes apparent, amputations are no longer able to stop it from spreading throughout the body.”
This proactive approach has proven effective, as the survival rate of injured worker ants more than doubles following an amputation. In densely populated colonies, like those of ants, protecting against infections that can spread rapidly is crucial.
The behavior of performing prophylactic amputations due to uncertainty about the infection status is a rarity in the animal kingdom, reminiscent of human medical practices. Further research will delve into the decision-making processes that lead to such drastic measures. A new project led by doctoral student Seiji Fujimoto aims to investigate ant species that utilize both amputations and antimicrobial treatments, exploring the evolutionary reasons behind these behaviors.
Understanding how these ants assess their situations could provide insights into the evolution of social insect behaviors and their complex colony dynamics.
