Researchers Expose Brazil’s Hidden Underground Ant Metropolis

A team of researchers has made a fascinating discovery – a sophisticated underground ant city that was once bustling with millions of insects. This remarkable abandoned megalopolis, featuring an intricate network of subterranean highways, pathways, and gardens, was uncovered beneath the soil in Brazil. This underground marvel is believed to have accommodated one of the largest ant colonies globally, although the timeline of their departure and the reasons behind their disappearance remain uncertain.

To unveil the hidden labyrinth, experts employed an ingenious approach, pouring ten tons of concrete into surface holes that previously acted as air conditioning ducts for the ants. This concrete filled the tunnels, solidifying the vacant spaces. This study was published in Insects Sociaux. 

This ambitious endeavor took ten days to complete, with the concrete filling the labyrinthine channels that spanned an impressive area of 500 square feet and reached depths of 26 feet below the surface. Following a month of preparation, a team led by Professor Luis Forgi commenced the excavation process, unveiling a captivating subterranean city often likened to the “ant equivalent of the Great Wall of China.” 

The community of ants that inhabited this underground metropolis is often described as a “superorganism” due to their remarkable coordination. This collective of insects undertook a Herculean feat as they constructed their vast home. Each tiny ant diligently transported loads of soil, weighing significantly more than the worker ants themselves, across a distance equivalent to slightly over half a mile in human terms.

The cumulative effort of these ants amounted to excavating approximately 40 tonnes of soil, ultimately shaping the intricate labyrinth. This revelation was brought to light in the documentary “Nature’s Secret Power,” which also featured insights from Dr. Bert Hölldobler of Arizona State University. 

The extensive network of tunnels was meticulously designed to facilitate efficient ventilation and establish optimal transport routes. This intricate system comprised numerous highways connecting central chambers while branching pathways led to various garbage pits and fungus gardens. These fungus gardens, nourished by vegetation collected by diligent workers, were central to the survival of the colony. 

Leafcutter ants, known for their ability to cultivate colonies within the confines of an acorn-sized space, have established similar societies throughout the Americas. Governed by a queen, these intricate societies, believed to possess the second-highest level of complexity on Earth after our own, rely on a structured division of labor. 

The lifecycle of these leafcutter ants is a remarkable process to behold. A single queen collects sperm from hundreds of millions of males before establishing her colony. The offspring she produces, whose size determines their roles and future caste within the colony, contribute to the construction and maintenance of the colony. Vegetation collected by these ants is used to cultivate fungus, which serves as sustenance for ant larvae. Interestingly, this fungus itself requires nourishment from leaves. 

Within the ant society, specialized individuals are responsible for waste management. Often comprised of older or more expendable members, these ants gather and store waste in designated dumps, subsequently transporting it outside the city. Notably, these diligent workers play a crucial role in eliminating hazardous parasites, such as the phorid fly, which lays its eggs in the crevices of worker ants’ heads, posing a significant threat to the colony. 

The unearthing of the abandoned underground ant city in Brazil has unveiled a remarkable testament to the industriousness and complexity of leafcutter ant societies. This intricate labyrinth of tunnels, pathways, and chambers reflects their highly coordinated efforts, which are often likened to the organizational structures of human societies. Through their tireless labor, these ants have demonstrated their ability to engineer impressive underground habitats that rival even the most remarkable human-built structures.