California ant war killed 15 million workers in 6 months, researchers found
A decades-long conflict between five rival Argentine ant supercolonies in San Diego, California, has resulted in the deaths of millions of ants annually, with researchers documenting 15 million fatalities in just six months. The war stems from the species' global spread and subsequent genetic divergence, leading different supercolonies to perceive each other as foes. The most dominant colony controls a vast 1,000-kilometer stretch of the California coast.
Why it matters
This ongoing 'ant war' provides a unique and large-scale natural experiment for scientists studying inter-species aggression, territoriality, and the ecological impacts of invasive species, offering insights into complex biological systems.
Millions have died when humans went to war against each other ever since the dawn of humanity. While animals are known to have their own rivalries and great wars, one among ants, and at such intensity, is a first. In San Diego, a violent war between five rival ant supercolonies has been raging for decades, killing millions upon millions of them annually, as per a report by IFL Science.Argentine ants: All over the worldThe ants in question are Argentine ants, native to South America. The species (Linepithema humile) is highly territorial and prone to aggression towards other insects, using their antennae and chemical signalling to identify whether others are an outside foe or related friend.Throughout the 19th century, the species was accidentally spread across the world through trans-Atlantic shipping.
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