Our Top 3 Shopping Recommendations for You
Citadel - Season 1: Trailer
(as of March 28, 2023 12:52 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)The Liars of Nature and the Nature of Liars: Cheating and Deception in the Living World
Little Green Ant
(as of March 28, 2023 12:52 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Have you ever thought about what would happen if ants disappeared? The question itself seems so weird. What’s there to talk about these tiny little creatures? What’s so important about them? You will find answers to all these questions in the lines below.
Ants: Why Do They Matter?
Ants are the tiny insects that we see in our day-to-day life. We often get irritated by their bites. They inject a chemical substance called formic acid that annoys them. Ants are commonly found everywhere except some extremely cold places like Antarctica and Iceland.
They feed mostly on dead animals and small insects and even eat their eggs. They communicate with each other using chemicals for hunting for food, and they trace their paths with the help of the chemical produced.
The study of ants is known as myrmecology. Ant communities are headed by queen ants which lay eggs and take care of the larvae. The queen ant assigns the work, whereas the male takes part in mating and goes in search of food.
The most amazing fact to know about ants is their population. According to studies, there are about 20 quadrillion ants on earth. Note that one quadrillion equals a thousand million million. That means if ants are to be distributed to humans, each one of us gets 2.5 million ants.
It is found that they weigh about one-fifth of the total weight of the human population. Now let’s think of our question what happens if ants disappear?
Consequences if Ants Disappeared
To answer this, we must know the function of ants. Ants contribute a lot to agriculture. They help to aerate the soil. Thus, they aid in increasing soil fertility, which also helps the penetration of water and oxygen into the ground.
Ants play a major role in balancing the ecosystem. Ants primarily feed on dead matter and help in decaying them. Ants also help germinate seeds by carrying them from one place to another. They also feed on some tiny common pests. So they also help us in the protection of crops from pests.
If ants were not present, there would be many insects to feed on dead matter. So it disturbs the whole ecological cycle. This may seem so silly reading that ants disturb our ecosystem. But every one of us will indeed be affected adversely if the ants disappear from the earth.
Ants also teach us about the order of life. They symbolize hard work. So ants are also the creatures that we must talk about. But what’s the need? Studies show that the population of decreasing at a rate of 0.92 per year. The main reason is habitat destruction.
Due to deforestation and urbanization, they are barely finding places to live. Also, the climatic effects are a reason for their deaths. It’s not only about ants. Many insects are slowly disappearing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ants play a really important part in our ecosystem. So if they would disappear, the whole cycle of life gets disturbed, and we, the humans, are the ones who would be affected. To protect them, we need not bring them to our homes and breed them. If we control our actions towards deforestation, climatic changes, and environmental pollution, everything will be perfect.
It’s fascinating to consider how such small creatures affect our lives. It emphasizes that if we are to live sustainably on the earth, we must ensure the safety of all animals!
If you liked this article, check out: Reimagining Memory and Memorising: What Does the Future Look Like For Them?
As an Amazon Associate, Icy Destiny earns from qualifying purchases.