The lucky insect’s name is Pheidole dentata , a species of American ant that has been studied by a team of researchers led by James Traniello, a professor of biology at Boston University.
The results of their work, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B , have been surprising: These ants show no signs of decline in their health or ability as they age . On the contrary, they even get better.
The scientists observed the insects in the laboratory , where they saw them doing their usual tasks: taking care of the larvae and feeding them, searching and storing food, devouring prey, following the trail of pheromones to find food …
Then they chose a random sample of young and old insects and studied their tiny brains, looking for signs of aging such as cell death or declining serotonin and dopamine levels. Surprise: the tests showed that there was no difference between veterans and novices. In fact, the older ants exhibited the same vigor as the younger ones , and even outperformed them in tasks like following pheromone trails, a skill in which experience counts.
The ants lived an average of 140 days in the laboratory and died suddenly, without showing any previous signs of decay , as if a biological clock were suddenly marking the end of their days, without prior warning.
Researchers do not know the causes of the phenomenon, but they believe that it has to do with the social character of these insects , which live in colonies with a perfect division and specialization of labor. Each specimen has a longevity related to the importance of the task it performs. Thus, the males in charge of providing food live a few months, but some workers survive more than a year. On the other hand, staying in a group increases life expectancy, as it ensures access to food and improves protection against predators and infections.
In addition, older ants take on the most dangerous tasks , so few young ants die, ensuring an always vigorous and renewed group. That the older individuals maintain their strength until the last moment favors the colony and ensures the survival of the queen.
