Army Ant Mills

Ants can dwell in colonies that have 1,000–100,000 individuals. These colonies may be enormous, yet they are successful because everyone cooperates. But occasionally their cooperation is excessive. Or too poorly, depending on the situation. One ant may follow another ant toward certain death if the individual members lack autonomy. This is the fundamental component of an ant mill, a phenomena occasionally observed in army ant colonies.

Army ants differ from other species of ants in a few distinctive ways. One is that, unlike many other ant species, they don't have permanent nests, therefore they are constantly looking for new food sources. Additionally, they are blind. Ants can dwell in colonies that have 1,000–100,000 individuals. These colonies may be enormous, yet they are successful because everyone cooperates. But occasionally their cooperation is excessive. Or too poorly, depending on the situation. One ant may follow another ant toward certain death if the individual members lack autonomy. This is the fundamental component of an ant mill, a phenomena occasionally observed in army ant colonies.

Army ants differ from other species of ants in a few distinctive ways. One is that, unlike many other ant species, they don't have permanent nests, therefore they are constantly looking for new food sources. Additionally, they are blind.