• Question: Why do ants never sleep?

    Asked by michelletherezien to Jo, Kevin, Valeria on 21 Jun 2012. This question was also asked by lizzierd.
    • Photo: Kevin Mahon

      Kevin Mahon answered on 21 Jun 2012:

      Well Queens do, usually for several hours. Normal ants get by on a few naps or periods of rest per day. They only sleep briefly as they only have a very short lifespan and as it is in colony, the time is used to work instead. Queens are believed to live much longer due to the fact that they get to sleep!

      Also importantly, their ‘sleep’ isn’t like ours, it’s more like a rest period than what we go through.

    • Photo: Joanna Cruden

      Joanna Cruden answered on 21 Jun 2012:

      All animals have to have periods of rest if not deep sleep and ants are no different in that respect 🙂

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