- The total biomass of all the ants on Earth is roughly equal to the total biomass of all the people on Earth. Scientists estimate there are at least 1.5 million ants on the planet for every human.
- Though many campers have literally had ants in their Carhartts, the top candidate for the first non-literal use of “ants in your pants” is the 1934 recording by Chick Webb and His Orchestra, “I Can’t Dance (I Got Ants in My Pants).”
- Ants are capable of carrying objects 50 times their own body weight with their mandibles. With that kind of strength, a human could hoist a pickup truck overhead.
- Award for the most heroic ant of all time goes to Anty, the protagonist in the 1989 live action Disney hit, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Anty selflessly sacrificed herself in battle so that oddball scientist Rick Moranis’ tiny children could make it to safety. It makes more sense when you watch the movie, I promise.
- The bullet ant is named because the sting of its neurotoxic venom is said to be as painful as a gunshot wound. Entomologist Justin Schmidt rated the stings of 78 insect species and described the pain of a bullet ant sting as, “pure, intense, brilliant pain. Like walking over flaming charcoal with a three-inch nail in your heel.” Which would pretty much ruin anyone’s picnic.
This article first appeared in the Early Summer 2015 issue of Canoeroots and Family Camping magazine.
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