See How Ants Build Bridges in Mid-Air With Just Their Bodies | National Geographic

Army ants exhibit complex social behaviors that require group cooperation to achieve success.

About National Geographic:
National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible.

Get More National Geographic:

There are an estimated ten thousand trillion ants on our planet. They weigh very roughly the same as all of humanity. Army ants exhibit complex social behaviors that require group cooperation to achieve success. New footage shows how these ants build bridges with their bodies. The lead ant will slow down when it reaches a gap. The rest of the colony will continue to build the bridge with their bodies until the gap is closed. With brains that weigh less than one-millionth as much as a human brain, it is not surprising that these ants communicate using just 10 to 20 signals. Unlike human language, these messages are all instinctual. This example of cooperation goes to show why ants are such successful survivors.

VIDEO CREDIT: © Chris Reid, Matthew Lutz, Helen McCreery, Simon Garnier, NJIT

See How Ants Build Bridges in Mid-Air With Just Their Bodies | National Geographic

National Geographic

[NatGeo]

With brains that are significantly lighter than humans, army ants communicate with each other using just 10 to 20 signals. How do you think cooperation has contributed to the ants' survival?

[julanrios]

noooo i wanted to see what happened after it fell wish there was a dedicated live stream of these bridge ants

[AzlianaLyana]

That drop at the end though. Hang on, men! We shall rebuild! Amazing instinctual teamwork. No wonder they could achieve 'great' things when you least expect it. Thanks National Geographic for sharing.

[AxFo]

If only I could get teammates like this in League of Legends.

[simonjrobinson]

It would have been better if you'd shown that long bridge being constructed from the very beginning.
That way it would have been clearer how they manage to span such a relatively long distance.

[fion]

It's cooperation not competition that will take us far and ensure our survival.

[camgood]

It's amazing that their bodies have enough tensile strength stay rigid and perfectly straight in mid air like that. I wouldn't think that they would be able to extend even halfway across that gap. Very bizarre.. 🐜

[cheetosortiz]

If only people can learn to cooperate like these ants

[nathanrausch]

The ants build better bridges than florida does....

[ricochetsixtyten]

Humans: Lets build a bridge!
Ants: I am the bridge!

[robertjensen]

1:28 when the bridge breaks on one side, only 3-4 ants are temporarily supporting the weight of a thousand ants below them.

[ShawnDC]

I love ants when they don't steal my food 😊😊😊

[Donnyf]

Army ant: IS THIS A GAME TO YOU?!!

Human: 🤷‍♂️

[javajack]

They also build boats with their bodies during floods.

[SupPartyPeople]

That moment you karate chop the bridge and the ants start forming one to you and you're screwed.

[gg]

'New footage shows how these ants build bridges ..' Would have liked to see that

[clixis]

these ants are the definition of teamwork

[andreitomescu]

If only people were able to have the same teamwork and cordination, the world would be a better place.

[daenite]

1:09 "Unlike human languages, these messages are all instinctual.".

Imagine if humans saw a small gap and just instinctively thought "bridge?"
"Bridge."
"We bridge?"
"Must bridge."
"Bridge."
"Make bridge."

[element]

most impressive part was probably the end where they carried the whole bridge