'Exploding ant' species found in South East Asia

[JacksinPA]

'Exploding ant' species found in South East Asia - BBC News

'Exploding ant' species found in South East Asia

Fascinating defensive mechanism. Hope to find more on this recent discovery.

https://gizmodo.com/new-species-of-exploding-ant-discovered-in-borneo-1825397505

New Species of ‘Exploding Ant’ Discovered in Borneo

The new species is called Colobopsis explodens

Scientists call this “autothysis,” a suicidal behavior that’s also been documented in some termites. Indeed, it’s the kind of Borg-like collective behavior that can only emerge among super-social organisms. Unlike the individuals of most species, who seek to preserve and proliferate their genes, ants and termites work on behalf of the entire colony; the loss of an individual, while not ideal, is secondary to the needs of the collective, which is why ants are referred to as a superorganism.

Exploding Ants: New Species Bursts Into Toxic Goo to Destroy Its Enemies

EXPLODING ANTS: NEW SPECIES BURSTS INTO TOXIC GOO TO DESTROY ITS ENEMIES

A newly described species of ant from Southeast Asia explodes in defense of its colony, spewing out a toxic goo that can slow down or even kill its enemies. The critters burst the walls of their own bodies, releasing a yellow irritant from special enlarged glands.

Researchers described the self-sacrificing species, which crawls the the tropical rainforests of Borneo, Thailand and Malaysia, in the journal ZooKeys. The creatures—aptly named Colobopsis explodens—will serve as a model for scientists investigating other “exploding ants.”

 

[KevinKohler]

There are species of bees that swarm invading wasps, sacrificing their lives while generating enough heat to kill the wasp.

Exploding, though? That's deff unique.

 

[JacksinPA]

There are species of bees that swarm invading wasps, sacrificing their lives while generating enough heat to kill the wasp.

Exploding, though? That's deff unique.

Ants are known that produce sticky substances for defense so going from there to one that saves up the goo until its ready to explode is not a big evolution step.

 

[Bum]

'Exploding ant' species found in South East Asia

Im just going to wait for the bad jokes to start....

 

[KevinKohler]

Im just going to wait for the bad jokes to start....

They're like pop rocks, but with legs?

 

[Bum]

They're like pop rocks, but with legs?

I like that once....:mrgreen:

 

[JacksinPA]

Im just going to wait for the bad jokes to start....

Like 'I'm stuck on you?'

 

[PoS]

There ought to be a way to explode flies and mosquitoes too. Hate those little buggers...

 

[Unitedwestand13]

Im just going to wait for the bad jokes to start....

i expect that this sound effect will be used alot.

 

[Bum]

There ought to be a way to explode flies and mosquitoes too. Hate those little buggers...

Closest I have come, is a salt gun...the flies simply don't seem to be able to escape it.

As for the Skeeters.....a block of dry ice in bucket of warm water,the corner of the yard away from people is a nice skeeter killer and attractant.....and it does freeze them crunchy.

Less hassle than poisons.

 

[PirateMk1]

Closest I have come, is a salt gun...the flies simply don't seem to be able to escape it.

As for the Skeeters.....a block of dry ice in bucket of warm water,the corner of the yard away from people is a nice skeeter killer and attractant.....and it does freeze them crunchy.

Less hassle than poisons.

A pond full of little fish work well too. I have a pond I put a bunch of small fish I got from the mosquito abatement people and boy has that ever worked in reducing the mosquito population. They are almost endangered on my property were the pond and house are. Those fish are tough little bastards too. They lived though a hot summer and extra cold winter and keep on multiplying and thriving.