Malaysian Exploding Ant: An Explosive Legacy
Camponotus saundersi, more commonly known as the Malaysian exploding ant, is an endangered species of carpenter ant that is known for interesting defense mechanism that the workers exhibit: exploding on any potential threats. While it may seem counter intuitive for their defense mechanism to cost them their lives, it still works quite well.
As the common name suggests, these ants are found almost exclusively in Malaysia, more specifically in Eastern Malaysia as shown on the map to the right. Even here they are quite rare as they are an endangered species. While this may be in part due to there suicidal defenses, it is more likely that this comes as a consequence of their habitat. Camponotus saundersi, live almost exclusively in the Macaranga puncticulata plant endemic to southeastern Asia such as the Malaysian rain forest. |
Arguably the most interesting feature of these ants is their self-sacrificing defense mechanism. This mechanism requires the Camponotus saundersi's extremely enlarged mandibular gland which is much larger than those found in other ant species (shown in blue in the image to the left). This gland functions to produce adhesive secretions that are released upon then ant's explosion. This adhesive secretion is also very toxic to those that it is released upon. In order for this substance to be released, the ant compresses its abdominal muscles to burst open the mandibular gland and release the stored secretions upon the potential predator. Although the ant is now dead, the predator is now either immobilized or greatly slowed. In addition to the toxic adhesive released during the explosion, there are chemicals released into the air that signal to other ants that a potential threat is nearby.