African Matabele ants (Megaponera analis) have to risk their lives and potentially even be injured while hunting termites for their food. However, there are interesting and unique things observed from the way these ants treat their injured friends. A study revealed, when they are injured, there will be other ants who help take care of them.
Quoted from Phys, Thursday (29/9/2022) Erik Frank, a researcher from Julius Maximilians University in Wurzburg who has studied insects noticed that ants lick other ants that are injured, for example a cut leg. This behavior is intended to prevent infection, and the treating ants are likely to use antimicrobial substances.
"In the substances used we found more than a hundred chemical components and 41 proteins. Of about half we have already been able to prove that the substances have antimicrobial qualities," says Frank. The substances, according to him, are very efficient, about 90 percent of the ants treated were found cured. In his three-year study, Frank found ants produce a substance in sac-like glands behind their chests, called metapleural glands.
The ant that acts as a helper or who will treat his injured friend, will then take these substances with his feet and then put in a new mouth after applying the wound to the injured ant. Until now, it was assumed that only humans were able to diagnose the infection and subsequently treat the wound with antimicrobial substances. However, it turns out that studies on ants reveal the unexpected and so far a unique thing in the animal kingdom. Frank also observed Eciton ants found in Central and South America. Wound healing by other ants has also been found in these ants.
The difference is that Eciton ants do not immediately bring them back to the nest but take care of them on site. Furthermore, Frank already plans to carry out studies on other insects such as bees or termites.
"Insects are well suited for observation and experimentation. But this kind of behavior can in principle be studied in all species of social animals, for example chimpanzee mothers who catch insects, chew, and apply saliva to the wounds of their children," Frank explained. In addition, the study of antimicrobial substances produced and used by these ants to treat injured friends, maybe in the future can also be used for human treatment.
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