How strong is an ant?
Ants can lift about 10 to 50 times their body weight, depending on the species. Some studies suggest certain ant necks can withstand forces thousands of times their body weight.
Ants are strong mainly because they are small. As animals get smaller, their muscles become much stronger relative to their weight. An ant's muscles are relatively thick compared to its body, and its light exoskeleton provides strong attachment points. If a human were scaled down to ant size, they would be relatively strong too.
A 2014 study by engineers at Ohio State University found that the neck joint of an Allegheny mound ant could withstand pressure of about 5,000 times the ant's body weight before breaking. Asian weaver ants have been photographed holding objects about 100 times their weight while hanging upside down.
Strength in numbers
Ants often work together to carry food much heavier than any single ant could move. Groups of ants coordinate their pulling directions to steer large items back to the nest. Army ants even link their bodies together to build living bridges.
Did You Know?
The total weight of all the ants on Earth is estimated to be about 20 percent of the total weight of all humans.