The Deadly World of Army Ants

Ants are some of the most successful creatures on Earth, thanks to their incredible teamwork and fierce battles. In this video, we explore the fascinating world of ant warfare—from the nomadic army ants that hunt in massive swarms to the highly organized leaf cutter ants defending their colonies. Discover how these tiny insects build complex societies, wage war, and survive in an unforgiving natural world. Whether it’s raids, defenses, or massive supercolonies, ant battles shape entire ecosystems in ways you might never have imagined.

Join us to learn how ants use cooperation, strategy, and determination to thrive—and why their tiny armies wield power far beyond their size.

Time Stamp:
00:00:00 Ants have ruled Earth for over 160 million years, with over 16,000 species and trillions of individuals.
00:00:16 Their success comes from teamwork—building nests, farming fungus, and forming relationships.
00:00:40 One fascinating aspect of ants is war. They constantly fight, even within their species.
00:00:56 Army ants, about 200 species, don’t build nests but travel in huge colonies hunting in long columns.
00:01:15 They can kill up to half a million animals daily, specializing in hunting other social insects.
00:01:39 Army ants attack other colonies as a coordinated, nearly unstoppable unit.
00:01:53 However, army ants rarely fight each other and often pass without conflict.
00:02:08 Other ants have evolved defenses like fleeing early or living bunkers guarded by soldier ants.
00:02:25 Leaf cutter ants have complex societies with huge colonies and soldier ants defending against predators, including army ants.
00:02:46 One army ant species preys mostly on leaf cutter larvae, attacking in massive columns.
00:02:55 Leaf cutters fight back with soldiers and workers, but are often overwhelmed.
00:03:16 If defenses fail, army ants invade nests and steal thousands of larvae.
00:03:24 Army ants bring death and destruction wherever they go.
00:03:31 Some ants form supercolonies across continents, waging large-scale wars.
00:03:40 Warfare is a constant part of ant life worldwide.
00:03:50 Unlike humans who avoid war, ants see other ants as enemies.
00:04:00 Their battles shape their societies and ecosystems.
00:04:07 Even the smallest ants become powerful predators through coordination and persistence.
00:04:14 Cooperation and combat go hand in hand in the world of ants.
00:04:24 Survival depends on unity, strategy, and determination.
00:04:29 Though tiny, ants wield incredible power through their armies.