Red Wood Ants Build 16 Million-Strong Colonies with Acid Defense

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Red wood ants produce formic acid from their venom gland at the rear of their abdomen, creating defense systems that shield forest ecosystems.

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These quarter-inch workers build five-foot-tall mounds containing between 30,000 to 16 million insects - the largest above-ground ant colonies.

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Photographer Ingo Arndt's macro lens revealed the pungent, acid-spraying colonies and their complex activities.

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The colony places resin throughout their nests after treating it with formic acid spray to fight bacterial and fungal pathogens.

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Forest protection occurs when ants bite wood-boring beetles and spray formic acid into their wounds.

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The ants protect aphids from enemies while collecting their honeydew excretions as their primary food source.

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Acid sprays from these nests help Eurasian jays eliminate parasites like mites and lice from their feathers.

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Several European countries, including Germany, protect these ants as logging, urbanization and climate change reduce their numbers.

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Each nest combines above and below-ground networks built with needles, leaves, bark, and twigs through burrowing.

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Red wood ant colonies influence forest health through their defensive tactics and relationships with various species.

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