Incredible footage captured by National Geographic’s new series “A Real Bug’s Life” showcases the remarkable survival instincts of fire ants. These resilient creatures form a life-saving raft by interlocking their limbs and mandibles, providing a fascinating glimpse into their collective social behavior.
The clip takes us to a backyard in Texas, where a colony of fire ants resides beneath a water feature. As the water level begins to rise, the ants quickly gather their young and unite to face the impending danger. Swept over a waterfall and into a swimming pool, they demonstrate their ability to adapt and overcome adversity.
Ants are known for their strong repulsion when attempting to swim, as their kicking legs push against one another. However, fire ants in groups of 10 or more are forced together due to the “Cheerios effect,” a phenomenon caused by surface tension. This effect brings nearby objects together into clusters, allowing the fire ants to exploit it for their survival.
To protect their queen, the fire ants bring together their larvae, pupae, and worker ants. They interlock their legs and jaws, forming a large raft that slightly dips in the center. The queen sits safely in the middle, shielded by her loyal subjects.
The discovery of this remarkable behavior occurred during the scouting of backyard locations for filming. Unaware of the fire ant colony living inside, location scouts turned on a water feature in a pool, inadvertently flooding it. This unexpected event provided the perfect opportunity for the series producer, Bill Markham, and entomologist Sean O’Donnell from Drexel University to capture this intricate behavior.
Equipped with macro lenses, split-level housings, and super slow-motion technology, the team documented the fire ants’ survival strategy in detail. Although they did not count the exact number of ants involved in the raft, Markham estimates that there were easily 5,000 on this particular occasion. To their surprise, they also discovered that the ants collected trapped air bubbles to remain buoyant and keep the raft afloat.
Markham emphasizes the strength of these ant rafts, stating that it would take 400 times their body weight to break them apart. These rafts can stay afloat for an astonishing 12 days, showcasing the fire ants’ resilience and adaptability. In this particular instance, the fire ants found a pool noodle and quickly made their way to dry land within a few minutes.
The footage captured in “A Real Bug’s Life” provides a captivating insight into the extraordinary abilities of fire ants. Their collective social behavior and ingenious survival tactics are a testament to the remarkable world of insects. As we continue to explore and understand these fascinating creatures, we gain a deeper appreciation for the intricate web of life that exists all around us.