Killer Bees v Army Ants

If there was a fight between killer bees and army ants who do you think would win?

I'm not sure myself... all I know is it would be one hell of a fight!

Bees I would guess. A bit like human war - those with the air power always do better. Maybe we could host a match Zamo...

I'd go for the ants myself.

Geoff - have you never seen flying ants?

Nomme

Would Michael Caine turn up to save the world, like he did in the Swarm?

I wonder whose side he would be on

Originally posted by nommedenet

I'd go for the ants myself.

 

Geoff - have you never seen flying ants?

 

Nomme

I just read the options and didn't see "flying" in his sentence

Originally posted by Geoff

I just read the options and didn't see "flying" in his sentence

True - but you made the assumption that the Bees could fly - why not the ants?

Nomme

No, army ants don't fly but then again bees can't drop bombs so I'm not sure the air supremacy argument holds water either. I suppose they could try stinging fly-passes but I'm not sure this is possible - it would take incredible flying precision.

The way I see it is like this... Killer bees may be bigger and stronger but army ants are bloody hard and there would be more of them. The question is can superior strength overcome superior numbers?

Debate on...

Originally posted by Zamo

No, army ants don't fly...

Busted Nomme - I win

Hmm, the bees would still win as the ants wouldn't be able plan their defence - the bees could fly around the ant's "frontline" and sting them from behind

From http://allsands.com/Science/Animals/armyants_veg_gn.htm

(Emphasis is mine)

"The legendary army ants are confined mainly to the tropical regions of India, Africa and South America. In some cases they are found as far north as the Mississippi Valley and south to Patagonia. These ants are often more than one inch long, with such a distinct difference in the male, female and worker, that scientist have sometimes classified them as separate species. The queens are wingless, while the males are winged and more wasp like in appearance. The workers vary in appearance with some being very large with powerful jaws while others smaller. Unlike the more settled existence of other species of ants, the army ant lives a nomadic existence. They are constantly moving about in the forest and have no permanent nest."

Sorry I didn't realise you were talking about a population of army ants without any males. Duh. Silly me.

My money is still on the ants.

Nomme

Fair point.

But if a bee's sting can kill a human, surely they would easily be able to kill an ant? What's the "reload" time for a bee though? If it's one sting per day then they might be a bit screwed...

PS. You can tell it's Friday

Originally posted by Geoff

Busted Nomme - I win

Check your facts first. See my other post.

Originally posted by Geoff

Hmm, the bees would still win as the ants wouldn't be able plan their defence - the bees could fly around the ant's "frontline" and sting them from behind

Your argument does not apply if both 'armies' have flight capabilty.

Next.

Nomme

Originally posted by Geoff

Fair point.

 

But if a bee's sting can kill a human, surely they would easily be able to kill an ant? What's the "reload" time for a bee though? If it's one sting per day then they might be a bit screwed...

 

PS. You can tell it's Friday

Now your just being silly

Nomme