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One colony of ants can number hundreds of thousands of these insects. And each of them should be fed and, accordingly, excrement. If in a densely populated anthill are not special sanitary conditions are created, it will become very soon unsuitable place: pathogens that are there develop, can destroy all ants. But, as recently it became known that ants save from global warming.
These social insects are known to keep clean. their homes, throwing corpses and garbage. But it turns out that in complex system of corridors they arrange for themselves real toilets. This is reported by the new work of German scientists, which published the edition of PLoS ONE.
Researcher Tomer Zackes with his colleagues University of Regensburg studied the life of garden black ants (Lasius niger). Scientists have discovered in remote areas of their nests accumulations of excrement. There was no other waste there, and therefore Scientists have suggested that these rooms have a “narrow specialization. ”
True, researchers cannot determine what is causing such complex behavior of ants. Known that some insects use feces for defense, some use them as building materials, someone marks territory with them, someone uses to fertilize their crops … Maybe ant toilets are part-time gardens for growing any crops or places for the production of a valuable nutrient, says Tsatskes.
It’s possible, however, that ants make toilets in their house, so as not to be in danger once again, as, leaving anthill, they always risk their lives.
As you know, other public insects are carefully monitored for the cleanliness of their housing. For example, bees, as well as spider mites regularly and accurately remove waste from nests life activity.
Life Insects
