United States - July 02, 2024

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In a remarkable display of communal care, Florida carpenter ants have been observed engaging in intricate wound care procedures, including selective amputation of infected limbs, according to a study published in Current Biology on July 2. Led by behavioural ecologist Erik Frank from the University of Würzburg, the research highlights how these ants methodically address injuries among nestmates to prevent infections and ensure survival.

Unlike other ants that use specialised glands for wound treatment, Florida carpenter ants rely solely on mechanical means. They either clean wounds with their mouthparts or, in severe cases, amputate limbs to halt infection spread. The study revealed a tailored approach: ants consistently amputated femur injuries but only cleaned tibia wounds, depending on the severity and risk of infection.

Micro-CT scans showed that femur injuries, involving more muscle tissue, posed a higher infection risk due to compromised circulation. In contrast, tibia injuries, with less muscle involvement, allowed faster bacterial entry. Surprisingly, immediate amputation in tibia cases wasn't effective due to the time-intensive process, prompting meticulous cleaning instead.

The findings suggest an innate ability among ants to assess, treat, and adapt wound care strategies, resembling sophisticated medical responses seen in human societies. Ongoing research aims to explore if similar behaviors exist in other ant species, shedding light on evolutionary adaptations and cooperative behaviors in insect communities.

"This level of innate cooperation in wound care challenges our understanding of animal behaviors and medical systems," remarks Laurent Keller, evolutionary biologist at the University of Lausanne. As scientists delve deeper, the study opens new avenues for understanding pain perception and innate behaviors in ant societies.