Mikey Bustos discovered a new ant species

Mikey Bustos has made a scientific discovery after observing an ant with characteristics that he had not previously noticed.

Bustos discovered the Meranoplus Bicolor ant, a species native to the Philippines, through the help of his myrmecologist friend, Dr. Dave General, an ant taxonomist from the University of the Philippines - Los Baños. In the caption of his Facebook post, he described the ant as a red and black creature with peach fuzz and spines on its back.

He announced on his social media platforms that the Meranoplus bicolor is the 555th ant species to be discovered in the Philippines.

"Meranoplus bicolor, is a species of ant of the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is found in many Asian countries, where its habitats range from open grasslands to open-canopy forests. They nest in soil, usually at the base of plants. The nest opening is a simple hole, but it can sometimes have multiple openings. Workers forage on the ground as well as on plants, where they exploit extrafloral nectaries and tend to aphids." - Wikipedia

Ants help to aerate the soil, allowing substances, water, and nutrients to penetrate the soil surface more easily. They also assist in decomposing dead animals, consume insects, and contribute to balancing the ecosystem.