These ants are one of the most effective teams in the natural world

image via New Scientist

August 12, 2025, 4:00 PM

• •Weaver ants, found from India to northern Australia, use their mandibles to form chains and pull on leaves to build nests.
• •Researchers at Macquarie University found that in teams of 15, weaver ants could pull over 100 times their body weight each, nearly doubling individual force contributions.
• •This contradicts the Ringelmann effect, where larger groups become less productive due to coordination and motivation loss.
• •Weaver ants' strong ground attachment and six legs may help them outperform other species, and they could even beat humans in a tug-of-war.

Weaver ants, found from India to northern Australia, buck the trend of diminishing returns in larger teams, demonstrating extraordinary strength. Researchers found that in teams of 15, each ant could pull over 100 times its body weight, nearly doubling the individual force contribution. This contradicts the Ringelmann effect, where larger groups typically see reduced individual productivity. The weaver ants' remarkable ground attachment and six legs likely contribute to their superior teamwork, potentially allowing them to outcompete humans in a tug-of-war.

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