We encounter this industrious insect almost everywhere. Quick and tireless, ants are always busy and busy. With their legs, they carry objects many times their own weight. How many legs does an ant have, and what function do they serve?
The structure of an insect and its legs
Ants belong to the class of insects of the superfamily Formicidae and the order Hymenoptera. These social Insects are divided into 3 castes:
- females;
- males;
- worker individuals.
Females and males differ in structure; they have wings, while worker ants lack wings. The very first ants emerged during the time of the dinosaurs. At that time, the ants had a primitive structure. Millions of years have passed since then, and two species of ants remain today. Despite the changes in structure, the insect has only six legs. This number of legs distinguishes these creatures from their other distant relatives:
- spiders;
- flares;
- crustaceans.
How many legs do ants have? This question is easy to answer. It's easy to count the number of legsThe limbs are clearly visible and distinguishable when the insect is fully grown. Each pair of legs is located on a separate part of the thorax. Ant legs are extremely strong, consisting of three joints. The upper part of the leg is called the femur, the middle part is the tibia, and the lowest part is the tarsus. The middle and upper parts are connected by a spur. The limbs vary in size and proportion, depending on the insect species. Overall, they have the same leg arrangement. The front legs are located in the front of the thorax. These legs have a special device in the form of a small brush. The insect uses this device to groom its other legs and antennae.
Functions of the paws
The hind legs are equipped with spurs that perform various functions. Ants usually use them often. use in battles with their fellowsTheir legs have a special structure that gives them unique abilities. For example, ants can't reach any obstacle, even a flat surface. These small and nimble creatures can move along smooth and steep surfaces. The smaller the individual, the easier it is to move across any surface. Domesticated ants can easily run across glass, while cockroaches, for example, cannot.
Ants can perform countless maneuvers on various surfaces thanks to the tiny serrations on their feet. These serrations help them cling to virtually any object. In the wild, protrusions like rocks or bark serve as convenient ladders.
Thanks to their paws, some species of individuals can swim wellThese include Australian bulldog ants. These insects are considered unique due to their rare abilities. They can swim across small puddles as shallow as 15 cm. They can also easily jump long distances, up to half a meter long. However, it's not their legs that help them achieve this, but their mandibles, which they use to push off the ground.
With their six legs, these workers perform a variety of tasks. They have the ability to spread their limbs wider than their bodies, allowing them to carry objects dozens of times heavier than their own body weight. This can be a load 50 times heavier than the ant's own weight.
Ants also use their legs as navigational aids. The insect remembers how many steps it has taken after a certain turn. On the return journey, it adjusts for this exact angle and the memorized number of steps.
There are weaver ants, which use their legs to build nests. Using their legs, these workers collect leaves and build nests from them. Several dozen individuals can participate in this task. They grasp the leaf with their jaws on one side and their legs on the other. The glue used is a secretion secreted by the larvae. Thus, the workers build a home for a large family; it is suspended, but very comfortable for an entire colony of ants. One can only imagine how many such nests these little workers have managed to build.
What else does an ant need legs for?
Ants use their legs not only as working tools but also for movement. Individuals also use their paws. to transmit odor signalsAnts have glands on their legs that secrete pheromones with a strong scent. As they move, the insects use these glands to leave marks on various objects. Other ants will immediately notice such a trail and be able to easily locate it. Large numbers of ants running along such trails leave numerous traces, making them attractive to other ants.
Over time, the trails become comfortable routes along which insects can move quickly and easily. Sometimes, ants make mistakes and can run in circles, as leaving a fresh mark closes the circle. As a result, the insect runs in circles And it often happens that the number of ants running in circles reaches several hundred. In a domestic setting, such circles can become a real disaster for a family.
Many people have long known how many legs an ant has. These small and versatile appendages help ants work and perform true miracles with their help.
