News Animals

Ants practice combat triage and nurse their injured

Mildly injured ants may overact their disabilities to get rescued

Matabele ant

ANT RX A Matabele ant from Africa uses her mouthparts to treat a nest mate’s wounded leg in a prompt and effective insect version of health care.

E.T. Frank

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

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No wounded left behind — not quite. Ants that have evolved battlefield medevac carry only the moderately wounded home to the nest.