They trap air between their bodies and extremities, that’s how they float as well.
Comment on Fire ants will form rafts after floods. Some being able to stay afloat for weeks!
rants_unnecessarily@piefed.social 2 months ago
Do the bottom ones drown and the top ones just hold them together? Or do they rotate shifts?
Jumi@lemmy.world 2 months ago
rants_unnecessarily@piefed.social 2 months ago
Oh that makes sense, yeah.
Beehaw_Girl@beehaw.org 2 months ago
You are asking the right questions. And I suspect the bottom ants offer themselves as sacrifice.
psycho_driver@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Not sure if there’s anything special about fire ants but when regular ants build bridges, yeah the bottom ones drown.