How many times their weight can ants carry?

In February 2014, Ohio State University reported that ants are able to carry loads between 3,400 and 5,000 times their body weight. This ability is due, in part, to extremely sturdy neck joints.

Prior to the 2014 study, scientists observed ants and estimated the insects' top load based on the weight of the objects they were carrying. Researchers at Ohio State University took a different approach. They anesthetized ants and then measured the amount of force their bodies could withstand before collapsing. This study examined the common Allegheny mound ant, a species that is not remarkable in its ability to lift and transport materials.