Introduction: Acoustic Communication in Ants – Quranic and Scientific Perspectives
In verse 18 of Surah An-Naml, God references a remarkable warning interaction among ants:
“Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, ‘O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they perceive not.'”
In this verse, the term “qālat” (meaning “she said”) is used, indicating a form of vocal communication among ants. This has long intrigued both Quranic exegetes and scientists, raising the fundamental question: Can ants truly communicate through speech?
Scientific research has demonstrated that ants employ multiple communication methods, typically categorized into five primary modes:
- Chemical signals (pheromones)
- Tactile communication (via antennae)
- Body language
- Trophallaxis (food sharing)
- Acoustic waves and mechanical vibrations
While scientific investigations have explored all these avenues, acoustic communication was historically considered the least significant—until a pivotal 2009 study revealed that larvae of a parasitic butterfly (infiltrating ant colonies) mimic the sounds of queen ants. This acoustic mimicry tricks worker ants into treating the parasite as royalty, prioritizing its care and feeding. This discovery shifted scientific attention toward “acoustic parasites,” gradually highlighting the underappreciated role of sound in ant societies.
Another critical debate in ant acoustics revolves around the medium of transmission: Can ants perceive airborne sounds, or do they solely detect substrate-borne vibrations? A hadith from Imam Reza (AS), commenting on this Quranic verse, emphasizes sound as a communicative medium among ants. However, some scientists argue that ants cannot detect airborne sounds and likely rely on vibrations transmitted through surfaces—a topic of ongoing scientific contention.
This study, part of a larger scientific initiative, seeks to address a foundational question: How do ants produce and receive sound, and how does their acoustic communication function?
Methods of Acoustic Communication in Ants
Research confirms that certain ant species use acoustic and mechanical vibrations to convey alarm signals, locate food, and coordinate social behavior.
Three primary sound-production mechanisms in ants:
- Stridulation: Sound generated by scraping two specialized body parts (a “scraper” and “file”).
- Drumming: Striking surfaces with body parts to create vibrations.
- Crepitation: Rapid mandible movements or scraping the lower jaw against surfaces, producing chirp-like sounds.
Specialized sound-reception organs in ants include:
- Johnston’s organ (located in antennae; potentially detects airborne sounds).
- Subgenual organ (senses substrate-borne vibrations).
These findings reveal that ants not only produce sounds but also possess sophisticated systems to receive and process acoustic signals.
