Acrobat Ant

Facts about Acrobat Ants, "Scientific name for Acrobat Ants Crematogaster". Acrobat Ants are arboreal and ecologically diverse species of ants found worldwide, which are characterized by distinctive heart-shaped abdomens. The Acrobat Ants is also commonly referred to as "valentine ant" because of its heart-shaped abdomen and "cocktail ant" because of its habit of raising its abdomen when alarmed.

Acrobat Ants hunts both large and small prey. The worker Acrobat Ants can mark and detect its prey by specific contact. When it makes contact, it immediately attacks, sometimes releasing a small amount of venom with a sting. It also releases an alarm pheromone to alert more workers that a prey has been seized. The present Acrobat Ant workers then "spread-eagle" the prey; it is carried along the backsides of the workers when all its limbs are outstretched. The Acrobat Ants use arolia (pad-like projections) to carry preys back to the nest. One worker can carry a small prey individually if other workers take too long to arrive, but if other Acrobat Ant workers are present, even if the prey is small, they will carry it together as a group. Acrobat Ants typically feed on grasshoppers, wasps, termites and other small insects.

As with most ants, Acrobat Ants form castes based on labor duties. Division of labor is normally behavioral but also has physical basis, including age or size. Soldier Acrobat Ants are typically larger with a more developed secretory gland specialized for colony defense and food acquisition. Worker Acrobat Ants are generally smaller than soldier and queen ants, and their main task is to assist the Acrobat Ants queen in rearing the broods. Workers vary in size.

Mating occurs in late summer. As with many ant species, a queen Acrobat Ants mates with a single male. The winged queens and winged males take the nuptial flight and mate. The winged Acrobat Ants males die shortly afterwards. The females also lose their wings afterwards.

When in conflict, the Acrobat Ants can release venom by flexing their abdominal region. The effectiveness of the venom of Acrobat Ants varies greatly with the enemy and the ant. For example, the ants enemies, usually other ants, may not be very resistant to the venom and can be killed with just a few drops of it. There are also insects and ants that can be enemies to the Acrobat Ants but they are resistant and not even a large number of drops of the venom can kill them. However, even if the venom doesn’t kill the enemy it helps the ant repel other offending ants. The venom is especially effective (in repelling or killing) if it comes into contact with the enemy’s antennae. The Acrobat Ants are resistant to fellow acrobat ants’ venom and are typically not repelled by them.

Acrobat Ants can be found both indoors and outdoors. Indoors, nests can been found inside homes especially around electrical wires. They will often be found near large food supplies and sometimes around other ant nests. Outdoors, the Acrobat Ants are usually arboreal, but often live in many common areas in the wild especially the moist and dark areas. The Acrobat Ants can often be found in collections of wood, trees, and under rocks.
The way Acrobat Ants communicate is by using chemicals called (pheromones) they can alert other ants where food and also if danger is coming.

Acrobat Ants have two stomachs, one that holds food for them to eat and one for other the colony.
You can find Ants on every continent accept Antarctica.
Ants can survive around a full day underwater.
There are more than 20,000, Ant species around the world, there have been 12,500 that have been classified in specific species.
Acrobat Ants can lift and carry three times their weight.
Acrobat Ants are omnivores, (definition-they eat both other animals and plants).
Ants are the longest living insect of all times they live up to 30 years.