Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Suicide Bombing Ant

Camponotus saundersi, an ant species found in Malaysia, also has a very interesting defense. The colony is divided up into different functional groups, one of which is soldier ants. These soldiers are charged with defending the colony at all costs. If battle ensues, these ants will actually self-destruct. They have two large glands that run the entire length of their body, and when they become stressed the ant contracts its abdominal muscles causing the glands to explode, spraying poison in all directions.
Who knew?

via Wikipedia

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Niiiice!

Anonymous said...

ooh surprise!!!

Anonymous said...

just like humans i am referring to suicide bombers....

Anonymous said...

Nothing new under the sun I see

Anonymous said...

Another Rob said...
Next we're gonna find that an ant species went to the moon first.

Anonymous said...

cool!

Quah said...

Interesting but your photo shows Camponotus gigas, a completely different species.

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