Army ants: Nature’s sutures – Army ants have very strong jaws that they use to bite prey and defend themselves. Some cultures have traditionally used army ants to stitch wounds. To do this, a person would hold the two sides of the wound together and then place an ant’s jaws on either side of the wound. The ant would then bite down, clamping its jaws together and holding the wound closed. Once the ant was in place, its body would be removed, leaving only the head and jaws behind. The ant’s head would then act like a staple, holding the wound closed until it healed.
This practice is still used in some remote areas today, but it is important to note that it is not a sterile procedure and there is a risk of infection. It is also important to choose the right type of ant, as some ants have venomous bites.
In modern medicine, there are much safer and more effective ways to close wounds, but the practice of using army ants to stitch wounds is a fascinating example of how people have used nature to their advantage for centuries.
Text © Earth Unreal
