Fire ants link legs and jaws to build a living raft that floats for weeks

When floodwater hits a fire ant colony, thousands of worker ants lock legs and jaws together in under two minutes, weaving their bodies into a waterproof raft. The queen and larvae ride safely on top while trapped air pockets keep the structure afloat, sometimes for several weeks until the ants reach dry land.

— Nathan J. Mlot, Craig A. Tovey & David L. Hu, Fire Ants Self-Assemble into Waterproof Rafts to Survive Floods — Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2011