ant fact archive

Joss McKinley, Sunbeam, 2023

Joss McKinley

Sunbeam
2023
photograph
courtesy of the artist

Dracula Ants14 practice non-destructive cannibalism. Using sharp, elongated jaws, they puncture the skin of their own larvae and feed on their blood without killing them.15,16

  • Amblyoponinae
  • Like other invertebrates, ants have a mostly clear blood-equivalent called hemolymph.
  • Bolton, 2003