Page 8 - My FlipBook

EXPLODING CARPENTER ANT

A Very Sticky End

Hungry.predators.aren’t.the.only.dangers.faced.by.ants...
An.ant.colony.must.also.defend.its.territory.from.invasion.

by.rival.ants..

In.the.forests.of.Malaysia,.one.type.of.carpenter.ant.takes.defending.

its.nest.and.food.supply.to.an.extreme.and.explosive.level.

When.faced.with.an.invading.ant,.the.carpenter.ant.
grabs.its.enemy.with.its.jaws.and.legs..Then.the.
carpenter.ant.explodes..It.sprays.the.invader.with.a.

thick,.yellow.gloop.made.up.of.poison.and.glue..Both.
ants.are.instantly.killed—attacker.and.defender!

The Science Stuff

Most ants have glands in their heads Exploding carpenter ant
that contain chemicals used for sending
messages to other ants. Inside an exploding
ant, these glands spread from the head into
the thorax and abdomen.
The glands are filled with the poisonous
yellow gloop.

When it’s under attack, an exploding ant
bends and squeezes its abdomen. It forces
its glands and body to rupture, blasting
thick, toxic glue all over its enemy.

Gland filled
with att ack
gloop
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