.gif)
This gif is showing an ant
drinking H2O, which is all fine and cool...but how do ants drink H2O?
The molecules at the surface of water, not having other water molecules on all sides, form stronger bonds with one another. This stronger cohesive force makes it a bit more difficult to break through the surface of water. This is not an issue for earthlings, but is a bit different for small creatures...such as insects. Insects can literally walk on water.
So, do they have to bite into it?
In the case of ants, mandibles break the surface of water. Ants don’t have lungs. The water is drawn up through capillary action, or wicking.
Watch video:
Ants Drinking Water.wmv
ants drinking water
What is capillary action?
http://water.usgs.gov/edu/capillaryaction.html
The molecules at the surface of water, not having other water molecules on all sides, form stronger bonds with one another. This stronger cohesive force makes it a bit more difficult to break through the surface of water. This is not an issue for earthlings, but is a bit different for small creatures...such as insects. Insects can literally walk on water.
So, do they have to bite into it?
In the case of ants, mandibles break the surface of water. Ants don’t have lungs. The water is drawn up through capillary action, or wicking.
Watch video:
Ants Drinking Water.wmv
ants drinking water
What is capillary action?
http://water.usgs.gov/edu/capillaryaction.html
corina marinescu
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