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Biology

The Biomechanics of Ant Colony Excavation and Soil Transport in Leafcutter Ants

Quick fact

A mature leafcutter ant colony can move over 40 tons of soil per year—a weight equivalent to several elephants—using individual ants that weigh less than a gram each.

Why this is interesting

Leafcutter ants are famous for cutting leaves, but each colony excavates literally tons of soil to build its underground nest. How do insects as light as a paperclip manage such massive earthworks?