11. Social Immunity System
Fire ant colonies have developed a sophisticated social immunity system to protect against diseases and parasites. When a pathogen threatens the colony, healthy ants actively care for sick nestmates, distributing antibodies through food exchange and grooming behaviors. They also engage in "social vaccination," where limited exposure to pathogens stimulates immunity across the colony. This complex immune response system has allowed fire ants to resist numerous diseases and maintain healthy colonies even in challenging environments.
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