Unity is strength, and when it comes to unity, perhaps everyone will think of small ants. The scene of a group of small ants banding together to carry a broken biscuit and cross an obstacle together seems to be vividly remembered. Ants always seem to be so united and loving, and so do the weavers that live all over the world. They are like nature's sewers, weaving together warm nests. Let's explore the miniature life of weavers together.
Exquisite weaving technique
Weavers are known for their tailoring skills, and their nests are usually built on trees. When you start weaving a nest, weaving ants gather between two leaves at the end of a branch.
Step 1: Tie the body into a long chain and bring the two leaves closer together. Nearby weavers will come to help, and they will work together. Step 2: Use the larval ants. Weavers remove young ants from their nests and shake them left and right along the joints of the leaves, and the young ants secrete sticky filaments that act as glue to bond the leaves. It gently taps the young ants with their antennae to signal when the larvae secrete sticky filaments. During the process of leaf bonding, the ant between the two leaves must maintain that position and endure such motionless discomfort. Weaving ants repeat the same work for several hours until the nest is woven.
They build nests of different shapes according to different leaves, forked, wavy, and oval, like a work of art. Nests are also large and small, some are made of one leaf, and some are made of several pieces. Nests seem to be built at the ends of branches, as the young leaves at the ends are softer and less laborious to pull.
The reason for making a home in a tree
Ants usually nest on the ground, so why do weavers have to work so hard to build nests in trees? There are many kinds of creatures living in a territory, as well as several species of ants. The number of these ants is far more than people think, which cannot avoid the territorial disputes caused by the ants competing for space and resources. So some ants choose to live in trees. Weaving ants make perfect use of their skills to survive and reproduce their offspring.
Ferocious predators
Weavers are actually ferocious predators, and they can take prey that is several times larger than their body size. When prey is spotted, weavers gather around the prey to hinder the movement of the prey. Then seize the moment, clamp the prey with a powerful upper jaw, and inject venom into its body. At this time, the other party will become very weak, and the weaving ants will take the opportunity to feast. When they return to the nest, they share food with other ants through mouth-to-mouth rumination, which guarantees the nutrition of the entire colony.
Weaving ants are such a united creature, they work together to overcome difficulties. Despite being less than 1 centimeter long, with a strong will and a strong sense of teamwork, this determined and active little insect is the king of the forest.