Page 24 - Engineering in Nature

Engineering in Nature

CAN ANTS BUILD AN ACID FACTORY?
Glands in ants' bodies produce formic acid (H CO ) Ants regu-
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larly spread this chemical substance, with its antibiotic properties,
over their bodies, thus preventing bacteria and fungi from growing
on themselves and in their nest.
That ants secrete this "disinfectant" acid in their own bodies and
know how to use it is astonishing. Even more amazing, however, is
that other creatures are also aware of their ability.
Some species of bird also use
this acid in ants. Though unable
to secrete chemical substances
themselves, they frequently visit
anthills and let the ants crawl
among their feathers, leaving be-
hind the formic acid they pro-
duce—and thus ridding

themselves of all their parasites.
How does the ant know that
formic acid is effective against
fungi—let alone the chemical for-
mula for that acid? How is it that
the ant comes to no harm, while
producing such a dangerous acid
in its body? Moreover, how do
birds know that they can use
ants' formic acid to get rid of par-
asites?
First, we need to question
how this chemical substance

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