The Ant that Likes it Hot
An Ant With the Right Coat for 158-Degree Weather. Silver ants of the Sahara leave their underground nests for only 10 to 20 minutes a day, and they do it when the heat is peaking. The surface temperature can reach 158 degrees Fahrenheit. The ant, just three-eighths of an inch long, survives because of a unique coat of hair that covers. The hairs, laid out in triangular cross sections, are highly reflective under visible and near-infrared light. The researchers also discovered that in the mid-infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the hairs dissipate heat through thermal radiation. The hairs are critical to the ants’ survival. That hottest moment of the day is when they can find the largest quantity of dead insects. Just a bit later, and those insects may be blown away by the wind or buried by the sand. In the extreme heat, the ants also can avoid predatory lizards. The hair on the ants may inspire the development of paints and other materials that can be applied to cars or rooftops. Go Green Pest Control Tsawwassen Pest Control Ladner Pest Control Delta Pest Control Randy Bilesky
