Why Do Army Ants Swarm?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do army ants swarm?

The Big Idea

Army ants swarm because together they can do what one ant never could! They march in huge groups through the forest. No single ant is the leader.

Huge Groups

Step one: huge groups. Army ants march in huge groups that can have hundreds of thousands of ants. They stream across the forest floor like a moving river.

Scent Trails

Step two: scent trails. No single ant leads. Each ant follows the scent trail of the others.

Team Catch

Step three: a team catch. Together they capture insects and other small animals that one ant could never catch. They don't have a permanent nest, so they move camp every few days.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Hundreds of thousands of ants march together. Each one follows the scent of the others. They travel across the forest floor. And every few days, they move their camp. A moving city.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Army ants live in the tropical forests of Central and South America. Army ants do not build a permanent nest, so they use their own bodies to make a living shelter. Many other animals follow army ants to catch the insects they chase away. Watch ants from a distance, since a swarm can bite.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Race a friend to move a pile of cotton balls using only your fingertips. Then team up with several friends and try again. Is it faster in a group? How does a swarm of ants use teamwork?

Outro

Army ants do big jobs as one giant team. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!