Ants are a diverse and widespread group of insects, with over 12,500 described species found in nearly every terrestrial environment across the globe. These highly social insects form organized colonies, ranging in size from dozens to millions of individuals. Their presence is so pervasive that the total weight of all ants in the world is estimated to be similar to the weight of all humans combined. This article explores whether ants are capable of “eating” a person.
How Ants Process Food
Ants possess specialized mouthparts, their mandibles, which are adapted for tasks like cutting, crushing, or carrying food. While these mandibles are strong enough to break down various materials, ants do not “chew” food. Instead, many ant species rely on external digestion, where they apply digestive enzymes to solid food to liquefy it. This liquid is then ingested or carried back to the colony.
Solid food particles, particularly those rich in protein, are often transported back to the nest for the larvae. Larvae play a unique role in processing solid food; in some species, workers place solid food in a groove on the larvae’s belly, where the larvae secrete digestive enzymes onto it. The resulting liquid is then consumed by workers and distributed throughout the colony, including to the queen. This process highlights the limited capacity of individual ants to consume large solid masses.
Threats from Ants to Living Humans
A healthy, living human is not a food source or prey for ants. However, ants can pose a threat through bites and stings, which are usually defensive actions. Fire ants, for example, are known for their painful stings that can cause a burning sensation, swelling, and pus-filled blisters. Multiple fire ant stings can lead to severe reactions, including nausea, shock, and in rare cases, life-threatening anaphylaxis, particularly in allergic individuals.
Other ant species, such as carpenter ants, can bite, though their bites are generally less painful than fire ant stings and may cause skin irritation. Army ants and driver ants, known for their large colonies and aggressive foraging, can swarm and inflict numerous bites. While healthy adults can typically move away from these ants, immobile individuals, such as infants or the elderly, could be at risk of severe injury or even death due to overwhelming numbers of bites and stings.
Ants as Scavengers
Many ant species are opportunistic scavengers. This scavenging behavior extends to deceased human remains, where ants act as decomposers. They will locate and collect dead insects, decaying plant matter, and carrion, breaking it down into smaller pieces to transport back to their nests. This process increases the surface area for other decomposers like bacteria and fungi to act upon.
Ants consume tissue from deceased remains over time by carrying small pieces away or through their external digestion process. The rate at which ants decompose remains depends on factors such as the specific ant species involved, the size of the ant colony, and environmental conditions like temperature and moisture. Their role as scavengers is important in ecosystems, as they contribute to nutrient cycling by breaking down organic materials.