Amazing Facts – Ants Never Sleep and Dont Have Lungs
Why Ants Never Sleep and Dont Have Lungs – Fascinating Ant Facts
When viewing ants, the first envisage that comes to mind is a continuous queue of a miniature fossil carrying sustenance to their home. They look relentless. And here is the interesting part, they actually are. Ants never fall asleep the way we do and to put a spin on it, do not possess lungs. Unbelievable right? Let us take a deeper look.
Do Ants Sleep or Just Rest?
Humans during the night do their best to ‘switch off’. Ants do not. This does not mean that they go on working like little machines nonstop, what they do is take short power naps, a lot of them. It has been said that ants have bouts of rest over the spans of day and night, only to rest for a few minutes.
It does not resemble deep sleep, but more a reset, a quick break. If you look into an ant colony, you may catch a glimpse of a few ants ‘snoozing’ while the rest are doing what they ‘snoozed’ off to. Ants have designed their own type of slumber.
The cool part about this is that it is sufficient to keep them apex and functional twenty-four seven. It isn’t surprising that they can run their colonies so smoothly.
How Do Ants Breathe Without Lungs?
The second revelation is just as surprising – ants do not have lungs. How, for example, can a creature that runs around all day, and even carries things much heavier than its own body, do all that without lungs?
The answer, it turns, is due to size. Ants are simply small enough that having our breathing organs is a necessity. Their body surface is covered in small holes called spiracles. These spiracles open to a system of very small diameter tubes of gas called tracheae. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are transferred to and from their bodies by way of spiracles, as well as a large majority of their cells. Oxygen and carbon dioxide enter and leave in the same manner.
For such creatures, this system is functional, albeit simple. Any larger creature, such as the ant, with lungs like ours, would theoretically experience suffocation, as their bodies would not be able to cope with such organs. They would also be unable to cope with the weight of such organs, and, as such, nature devised a better system.
Surprising Facts About Ants
The more you learn about ants, the more obvious it becomes that they are among the most successful creatures on the planet. With their ability to sleep only in short bursts, they can keep their colonies active at all times. This also allows them to rest more than the average creature. Their breathing system, which requires no lungs, allows them to survive where other creatures would struggle.
These days, I sometimes think about how we complain about feeling tired after a long day. What if instead of being tired, one could sleep for a minute and then wake up fully energetic like an ant? Definitely, that wouldn’t be a substitute for my 8 sleep hours, but still, it does illustrate how lives of many living beings differ from one other
Fun Ant Facts for Everyday Life
Ants teach a real-life lesson in collaboration. Aqueous respiration and sleep are unnecessary for them, yet, they’ve managed to survive, and in some cases, thrive like few other species, all over the world. Ants are a constant reminder of how astonishing Mother Nature is, from pavements in India to the jungles of South America.
And for the record, I recall as a child on a summer day, sitting and staring at an anthill in the garden. I recall thinking they were busy all the time because they were extremely strong. Now, I smile every time I recall that understanding them does not sleep the way we do, because it is a wonderful example of how some secrets in nature are hiding in plain sight.
FAQs About Ants
Do ants really never sleep?
Ants do not sleep the same way people do. They take short naps throughout the day and night. These intervals of sleep, referred to as “mini-rests”, occur frequently, yet only last for a few minutes. This allows the colony to remain active 24 hours a day.
How do ants breathe without lungs?
Ants breathe via a set of minuscule holes on their bodies called spiracles. These spiracles connect to thin pipes called tracheae, which directly supply the cells with oxygen. This system is effective, and efficient, because of the small size of ants.
Can ants survive anywhere?
Ants live almost anywhere on the planet, except for Antarctica. Their unique biology, their teamwork, and their ability to adapt are the determining factors for their success and survival as a species.
Final Thought
Take a moment to appreciate that tiny creature. It doesn’t possess lungs, it does not sleep, and it tirelessly toils day and night. It is constructed not as a single being but as a small component member of a society, which is simultaneously functioning in a highly coordinated and considerate manner.
The smallest of creations can teach us the most.
References
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National Wildlife Federation – Do Ants Sleep?
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Ants -
Arizona State University – Ask A Biologist: Ant Facts
https://askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/ant-facts -
Smithsonian Institution – Ants: Tiny Insects, Big Impact
https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/teaching-resources/life-science/ants -
Science News for Students – Do Ants Sleep? Yes, But Very Briefly
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/ants-sleep-briefly -
BBC Earth – Why Ants Don’t Need Lungs
https://www.bbcearth.com/news/why-ants-dont-need-lungs
