Ant acid used for defense and cleaning food

 

Many ant species produce acid in a poison gland in their abdomen to spray at enemies as a defense mechanism . They also drink the acid to kill pathogens in their food. Because ants often regurgitate food to feed their co-workers, this helps prevent diseases spreading in colonies. Drinking acid plays a key role in defending these ants from unsafe microbes and averting infections scattering in colonies. It is not known if the ants actively drink from the gland or it happens unintentionally as they groom themselves. When crazy ants are squirted with the venom of fire ants, the crazy ants apply acid to their bodies to clean the venom.

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