Welcome to the world of amazing animals! Today, we’re going to learn about the incredible army ants. These ants are called “army ants” not because they wear cute little hats and boots, but because they march together like an army!
Army ants live in tropical rainforests. They are very important for the ecosystem because they help keep the jungle clean by eating other insects. But guess what? They don’t build permanent homes like other ants do. Instead, they move around a lot, which is why they might feel a bit “antsy”!
In an army ant colony, each ant has a special job. Let’s meet some of them:
Army ants talk to each other by leaving chemical trails. These trails help them find their way and stay together. Sometimes, the trails might smell funny, but they are very important for the ants to communicate!
Army ants are amazing builders. They use their own bodies to create a giant nest where the queen can lay her eggs. Once the eggs are laid, they break down the nest and move to a new place. It’s a lot of work, but they are very good at it!
Even though they might give you the “creepy crawlies,” army ants are truly amazing animals!
Ant Role Play: Gather your friends or family and pretend to be different types of army ants. Choose who will be the soldier ants, forager ants, nursery ants, and the queen ant. Act out a day in the life of an army ant colony. How do the soldier ants protect the group? What do the forager ants find to eat? How do the nursery ants care for the baby ants? This activity will help you understand the different jobs each ant has in the colony.
Ant Trail Experiment: Create your own “chemical trail” using a piece of string or yarn. Lay it out in a zigzag pattern on the floor. Pretend you are an army ant following the trail. Can you find your way from the start to the end without stepping off the string? This will help you understand how army ants use chemical trails to communicate and navigate.
Ant Observation Walk: Go on a nature walk with an adult and look for ants in your neighborhood or local park. Observe how they move and work together. Can you spot any ants carrying food or building a nest? Take notes or draw pictures of what you see. Think about how these ants might be similar to or different from army ants.
