Acrobatic ants are a species of ant that is found in the rainforests of Costa Rica. These ants live in trees and jump from branch to branch, as high as 50 feet above the ground. Acrobat ants have been known to have a lifespan of up to 10 years, and their diet consists primarily of small insects like termites and other arthropods. Acrobat Ants will also eat fruit and honeydew when they can find them. This blog post introduces you to some interesting facts about acrobats ants!
What are Acrobat Ants
Acrobat ants are in the genus Crematogaster, which is contained in the family Formicidae. Individuals in this genus range in size from 3-6mm long. The main characteristic of these types of ants is their antelope-like build. The mandibles are large and elongated, which they use for defense when threatened by other insects or vertebrates.
Acrobat ants may be found in a variety of habitats, but they are most commonly spotted in moist or dry forests and woodlands. They can also be found along the shoreline, near ponds and streams, and around rotting logs. During the day, these ants will usually rest inside small hollows or cracks in trees or wood structures. However, they can be found underneath vegetation or rocks as well. They will sleep inside small holes during the night, like those made by beetles and other ants.
Acrobat ants are mainly herbivorous, consuming honeydew from other insects and plants; however, they may also eat protein-rich foods such as insects and insect larvae. Being that they are omnivorous, acrobat ants can survive on a variety of foods. Acrobat ants also tend to feed on plants with sugary and oily secretions (sap and nectar).
These types of ants make their nests in places like rotting wood or inside hollow twigs. When building their nests, they will sometimes chew holes inside the structures to store food. Acrobat ants build a distinct type of ant nest called a “carton” nest, which is a term used to describe a structure made from plant fibers or other small fragments that are chewed into a pulp and then formed into bundles. Carton nests help insulate acrobat ants from weather conditions, both hot and cold.
What do Acrobat Ants Look Like?
ACROBAT ants look like they are always standing on their heads, and they seem to balance no matter how much they try to knock it over. This is because they have a very special brace on their feet that makes them almost weightless.
They can be found on trees or ground level. They are easy to identify because they have antennae that are longer than their body. The antennae of these ants are straight, hairless, and long. They also have long legs and larger eyes, which makes them well adapted for their tree-dwelling lifestyle.
The acrobat ants also have very small eyes, which is why they need to rely on smell and touch. Acrobat ant colonies are not as abundant as leaf-cutter ants, but these species are more widespread since they are arboreal. These clever little insects are living proof of nature’s brilliance.
The acrobat ants are small in size. Usually, 2mm in length and have a particular body shape that is different from other ants. The acrobat ants are small in size with a reddish-brown color. They come with three pairs of conjoined toes on their front legs. Like all insects, they have three main distinct body regions – the head, thorax (the midsection), and the abdomen (the hindmost part of the body). The acrobat ants have powerful jaws that help them to carry food, larvae, and other objects. These ants are nocturnal in nature, which means they do their work at night.
The workers move through the trails when foraging from the nest for food or nest materials. Each ant is equipped with stingers and can sting multiple times, which helps them to defend themselves against enemies like the ants of the genus “Iridomyrmex,” predatory bugs, and other types of parasitic wasps.
Why are They Called Acrobat Ants?
The word “acrobat” comes from the Greek word ἀκροβατέω acrobateo, meaning “walk on tiptoe,” or “mountain climber.”
“Acrobat ants are aptly named because they can walk on steep surfaces, even at sharp angles. They will often walk on the surface of leaves and branches with only their feet contacting the surface. Acrobat ants walk in a way that creates a tripod, something that most insects cannot do.
Acrobat ants, like most other insects, have three types of legs: they have two large back legs for walking and two smaller front legs to help pick things up. The reason these insects were called acrobat ants is that they can suspend themselves by their three pairs of spindly legs, which look like an acrobat balancing on a tightrope. These ants look for nectar and arthropods as food sources.
The Acrobat Ant is also called the “Jumping” ant. This name comes from the way they jump when disturbed. They use their forelegs to keep their balance and then hop in a jerky fashion when they leap up and away from potential danger.
These ants protect themselves from potential threats by biting and scaring the enemy away. They fight with their mandibles, which is their tool for cutting things off, such as the food they eat.
Are Acrobats Harmful?
Acrobat ants are unusual ants from the Crematogaster genus. They can’t sting but do rub their abdomens together to make a squeaking sound that’s akin to crinkling a piece of aluminum.
Acrobat ants are not aggressive ants. They don’t bite, but their jaws are capable of squeezing the life out of small insects and grubs. They’re solitary social insects that occupy nests in dead wood or walls, but their numbers aren’t large enough to pose a threat to people or other animals.
The only time that acrobat ants will be aggressive is when they are threatened or feel that their nest or family members are in danger. Acrobat ants can also become aggressive in defense of a food source. They will swarm in order to defend their nests in the event of a threat to make sure that their queen and larva do not come out from hiding.
Acrobat ants can actually be useful in some cases. These ants are also very beneficial to agriculture because they help with crop pollination. Acrobat ants are just as important to our ecosystems as other insects are because they provide food for other animals, including birds. They also help Earthworms by providing them with nutrients and organic matter that the worms need to keep healthy and thrive.
How to Get Rid of Acrobat Ants?
Acrobat ants look like sugar ants, but they’re smaller and can be black, red, or brown in color. They nest outdoors and feed on sugary foods like vegetables and fruits. You can tell acrobat ants apart from sugar ants because acrobat ants don’t have a waist between their thorax and abdomen. Acrobat ants can climb walls, so if you wipe out the ant nests with a soap-and-water solution, they’ll just find their way back up again!
To get rid of them for good, follow these steps:
- First, you will need to find out where they are coming from so you can attack them at their source. If you’re not sure how to locate their nests, look for piles of dead insects on the outside of your house.
- Cut away the branch they’re nesting on.
- Cover all potential entrances with sticky materials – Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly around windows, doorways, foundation cracks, or any other potential entrance to keep ants from entering your house.