Ant Spotlight: Colobopsis explodens
Commonly known as the Exploding Ant
Colobopsis explodens—often referred to as Exploding Ants—is a species of ant native to the tropics of Southeast Asia. This ant has earned its name for exploding when under threat. The body of C. explodens contains sacs of acid that are sprayed onto the threat, corroding and melting away the now-deceased (or at least heavily maimed) threat. When they are ruptured, they die, effectively committing suicide for the better of the colony.
C. explodens (right) Seen Exploding on Black Ant (left, unknown species)
When C. explodens ruptures, an acid is sprayed on the threat, but why would the ant kill itself despite having other options, such as stinging? C. explodens does not have a stinger and instead relies on its acid. Like bees, ants are willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the colony, if it means the survival of the colony. Many colony-forming insects have been observed to operate on the hivemind, acting as one to achieve their goals. C. explodens is no different, actually showcasing a much more extreme display of this concept. The explosion is achieved by tightening specific muscles in the abdomen, shooting acid everywhere.
On top of an explosive display, C. explodens is especially unique due to the turtlehead-like defense mechanism deployed by the majors. Only the minor workers explode in colonies of this species, but the majors have a much more important role. Using their very large head, they block the entrance to the nest, halting any unwelcome intruders from entering. This behavior has also been recorded in colonies of the species Cephalotes varians, earning them the name of the turtle-headed ant. Though they share similar behaviors, they have many differences. C. explodens possesses a dome-shaped head for its arboreal nests, while C. varians has a flatter, more specialized head, due to the majors being the only significant defense for the colony.
C. explodens Major
Overall, the Exploding Ant is a great display of how the hive mind works. These ants are willing to sacrifice themselves for the colony, putting their heroism closer to a soldier than a civilian. For C. explodens, the frontline is sealed with flesh and defended with explosives.