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Carpenter Ants Perform Life-Saving Amputations to Prevent Infections, Study Reveals

Jul 2, 2024, 04:46 PM

Recent research has revealed that ants can perform life-saving amputations on their injured nest mates to prevent infections. This behavior, observed in carpenter ants, marks the first known instance of a non-human animal severing limbs to curb infections. The study, published in Current Biology by KellerLab_Ants, highlights that ants may be the only animal that performs surgical amputations. Interestingly, these amputations are not always the best strategy for wound care, and ants have adapted their treatment methods accordingly. Reuters reported on this groundbreaking discovery.