Some groups just don't get along.​

Every day, billions of soldiers fight a merciless war​

Every day, billions of soldiers fight a merciless war​

on thousands of fronts, and it's been going on for over 100 million years.​

on thousands of fronts, and it's been going on for over 100 million years.​

The World War of the Ants.​

The World War of the Ants.​

Ants are ancient beings that arose around 160 million years ago,​

Ants are ancient beings that arose around 160 million years ago,​

and took over a wide variety of ecological niches so successfully​

and took over a wide variety of ecological niches so successfully​

that they became one of the dominant animals on planet Earth.​

that they became one of the dominant animals on planet Earth.​

Today, they count more than 16,000 different species​

Today, they count more than 16,000 different species​

with over 10 thousand trillion individuals.​

with over 10 thousand trillion individuals.​

Collectively, ants alone make up 20% of the entire animal biomass on land.​

Collectively, ants alone make up 20% of the entire animal biomass on land.​

Similar to humans, their recipe for success is collaboration.​

Similar to humans, their recipe for success is collaboration.​

While a single ant is pretty useless,​

While a single ant is pretty useless,​

together, they are able to achieve stunning feats.​

together, they are able to achieve stunning feats.​

They construct complex colonies,​

They construct complex colonies,​

care for livestock,​

care for livestock,​

pursue agriculture,​

pursue agriculture,​

or have complex symbiotic relationships.​

or have complex symbiotic relationships.​

And, of course, ants wage war.​

And, of course, ants wage war.​

Even among the same species, a constant state of conflict is pretty common.​

Even among the same species, a constant state of conflict is pretty common.​

Skirmishes, raids, and full-on invasions​

Skirmishes, raids, and full-on invasions​

are happening every day, causing millions of casualties.​

are happening every day, causing millions of casualties.​

Let's look at some of the most interesting ones in a series of videos.​

Let's look at some of the most interesting ones in a series of videos.​

In this one, the ​​army ant​—a swarm made for war.​

In this one, the ​​army ant​—a swarm made for war.​

The army ant group consists of about 200 different species.​

The army ant group consists of about 200 different species.​

Army ants do not build nests; they live a sort-of nomadic lifestyle​

Army ants do not build nests; they live a sort-of nomadic lifestyle​

with groups of millions of individuals.​

with groups of millions of individuals.​

On a hunt, some species form large columns up to 100 meters long,​

On a hunt, some species form large columns up to 100 meters long,​

killing and immediately dismembering every insect or small vertebrate they encounter.​

killing and immediately dismembering every insect or small vertebrate they encounter.​

The biggest hunting parties can kill up to 500,000 animals per day.​

The biggest hunting parties can kill up to 500,000 animals per day.​

Some army ants specialize in hunting and consuming other social insects​

Some army ants specialize in hunting and consuming other social insects​

like termites, wasps, and especially other ants.​

like termites, wasps, and especially other ants.​

Wasps are fierce, and may seem invulnerable,​

Wasps are fierce, and may seem invulnerable,​

but if a swarm makes its way to their colonies​

but if a swarm makes its way to their colonies​

they don't even stand a chance.​

they don't even stand a chance.​

The much bigger and stronger wasps might kill a few of them,​

The much bigger and stronger wasps might kill a few of them,​

but they are quickly overwhelmed.​

but they are quickly overwhelmed.​

Even if their queen survives an attack,​

Even if their queen survives an attack,​

the army ants steal the colony's larvae, and quickly devour them.​

the army ants steal the colony's larvae, and quickly devour them.​

There is no recovery from that.​

There is no recovery from that.​

When army ants discover another ant colony, they immediately attack.​

When army ants discover another ant colony, they immediately attack.​

Now, you might think this would be a more even battle, but it's not.​

Now, you might think this would be a more even battle, but it's not.​

Because army ants act as a social unit,​

Because army ants act as a social unit,​

they are especially dangerous and effective.​

they are especially dangerous and effective.​

Most army ants are not particularly impressive individually,​

Most army ants are not particularly impressive individually,​

but they can overwhelm their victims with sheer numbers​

but they can overwhelm their victims with sheer numbers​

before the victim colony can mount an effective defense.​

before the victim colony can mount an effective defense.​

And so, invasions tend to be won by the attackers​

And so, invasions tend to be won by the attackers​

and the prey colony is damaged significantly,​

and the prey colony is damaged significantly,​

or is exterminated.​

or is exterminated.​

Interestingly, army ants don't fight army ants.​

Interestingly, army ants don't fight army ants.​

When two swarms encounter each other in the wild,​

When two swarms encounter each other in the wild,​

they either pass through each other, ignoring the other swarm,​

they either pass through each other, ignoring the other swarm,​

or both colonies just move away.​

or both colonies just move away.​

Which makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint.​

Which makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint.​

Army ants that fought other army ants​

Army ants that fought other army ants​

probably eradicated themselves millions of years ago.​

probably eradicated themselves millions of years ago.​

Indeed, they're so deadly, that other ant species had to specialize​

Indeed, they're so deadly, that other ant species had to specialize​

to survive their presence.​

to survive their presence.​

Many species just panic and evacuate their nest when they notice army ant scouts​

Many species just panic and evacuate their nest when they notice army ant scouts​

carrying as many larvae with them as they can,​

carrying as many larvae with them as they can,​

in order to return and rebuild after the attack.​

in order to return and rebuild after the attack.​

Other species have invented living bunkers, since fighting is so futile.​

Other species have invented living bunkers, since fighting is so futile.​

They have worker classes that have big square heads.​

They have worker classes that have big square heads.​

When army ants show up,​

When army ants show up,​

they use them to block the entrances to their nests,​

they use them to block the entrances to their nests,​

so the attackers have to give up after a while.​

so the attackers have to give up after a while.​

But, not everybody is afraid of army ants.​

But, not everybody is afraid of army ants.​

Leafcutter ants form some of the largest and most complex societies​

Leafcutter ants form some of the largest and most complex societies​

of any animal other than humans.​

of any animal other than humans.​

They live in extensive nests, many meters deep and across,​

They live in extensive nests, many meters deep and across,​

harboring millions of citizens with a highly-sophisticated division of labor.​

harboring millions of citizens with a highly-sophisticated division of labor.​

Like huge soldiers—100 times more massive than a worker.​

Like huge soldiers—100 times more massive than a worker.​

Their sole purpose might be to defend their colonies against army ants.​

Their sole purpose might be to defend their colonies against army ants.​

They still have a nemesis though.​

They still have a nemesis though.​

The diet of the army ant​ ​species ​​Nomamyrmex esenbekii​

The diet of the army ant​ ​species ​​Nomamyrmex esenbekii​

consists mostly of the larvae of other ants.​

consists mostly of the larvae of other ants.​

Compared to other army ants, they have a more robust soldier cast.​

Compared to other army ants, they have a more robust soldier cast.​

So far, they are the only known species that can successfully attack a mature colony of leafcutters.​

So far, they are the only known species that can successfully attack a mature colony of leafcutters.​

When they find a leafcutter colony, hundreds of thousands attack in a long column.​

When they find a leafcutter colony, hundreds of thousands attack in a long column.​

The moment the leafcutter ants notice the army ant attack, they go into crisis mode​

The moment the leafcutter ants notice the army ant attack, they go into crisis mode​

and immediately alert their soldiers, who very quickly swarm to the site of attack.​

and immediately alert their soldiers, who very quickly swarm to the site of attack.​

A frontline develops that can be a few meters wide, and up to a meter deep.​

A frontline develops that can be a few meters wide, and up to a meter deep.​

The leafcutter soldiers go head-to-head with the army ants,​

The leafcutter soldiers go head-to-head with the army ants,​

locking on them, and try to cut through their heads.​

locking on them, and try to cut through their heads.​

Smaller leafcutter workers help by grabbing the enemies.​

Smaller leafcutter workers help by grabbing the enemies.​

Small teams carry out attacks behind the frontline,​

Small teams carry out attacks behind the frontline,​

where they dismember their enemies by ripping their legs from their bodies.​

where they dismember their enemies by ripping their legs from their bodies.​

The attackers, meanwhile, try to swarm their victim soldiers,​

The attackers, meanwhile, try to swarm their victim soldiers,​

and sting them to death in a mob.​

and sting them to death in a mob.​

Despite the powerful defense, and the determined response,​

Despite the powerful defense, and the determined response,​

the army ants are still superior in numbers.​

the army ants are still superior in numbers.​

So, without knowing if the battle can be won, the leafcutters prepare for the worst.​

So, without knowing if the battle can be won, the leafcutters prepare for the worst.​

Workers rush to create barricades,​

Workers rush to create barricades,​

and seal off as many entrances to their nest as possible to secure their brood.​

and seal off as many entrances to their nest as possible to secure their brood.​

If the leafcutters are not able to repel the invaders,​

If the leafcutters are not able to repel the invaders,​

or at least barricade enough of their entrances in time,​

or at least barricade enough of their entrances in time,​

the army ants swarm the nest, overrunning all opposition.​

the army ants swarm the nest, overrunning all opposition.​

They penetrate deep into the hidden chambers,​

They penetrate deep into the hidden chambers,​

and steal tens of thousands of the leafcutters' brood to eat them.​

and steal tens of thousands of the leafcutters' brood to eat them.​

Even if the leafcutter colony survives, this is a heavy blow.​

Even if the leafcutter colony survives, this is a heavy blow.​

Regardless who has won the war, thousands lay slain on the battlefield.​

Regardless who has won the war, thousands lay slain on the battlefield.​

When the army ants attack, death follows them.​

When the army ants attack, death follows them.​

But, there are other species that form much more dangerous ant armies.​

But, there are other species that form much more dangerous ant armies.​

Species that form supercolonies, covering thousands of square kilometers​

Species that form supercolonies, covering thousands of square kilometers​

over multiple continents, engaging in wars kilometers across.​

over multiple continents, engaging in wars kilometers across.​

They deserve their own video though.​

They deserve their own video though.​

No matter the scale, war is a part of ant existence,​

No matter the scale, war is a part of ant existence,​

be it between huge colonies or small groups trying to fend off a raid.​

be it between huge colonies or small groups trying to fend off a raid.​

In tropical rainforests, but also in the cracks of the concrete we walk over every day.​

In tropical rainforests, but also in the cracks of the concrete we walk over every day.​

Humans have decided that war is not a thing that they want to do a lot anymore.​

Humans have decided that war is not a thing that they want to do a lot anymore.​