Florida Carpenter Ants Use Amputation as Wound Treatment, Surprising Scientists

Florida carpenter ants live a harsh life, constantly engaging in violent conflicts with ants from rival colonies in the Southeast. These territorial half-inch ants often end up with leg injuries as a result of these brutal confrontations.

Evolutionary Wound Treatment

Recent findings by scientists have revealed a remarkable evolutionary adaptation in these ants. Published in the journal Current Biology on Tuesday, the research unveils a surprising wound treatment method used by the Florida carpenter ants - amputation. When an ant is injured, its nest mates promptly bite off the affected limb to prevent infection, a behavior never observed before in any other ant species.

Surgical Precision

The study also found that the ants selectively amputate certain leg injuries, indicating a methodical approach to their surgical practices. This unique behavior prompts questions about the intelligence and pain perception of these ants, as no other animal, apart from humans, is known to conduct such amputations.

This discovery sheds light on the extraordinary survival instincts and adaptive capabilities of the Florida carpenter ants, further deepening our understanding of their complex social behaviors and evolutionary strategies.