Re: How can ants live underwater?

Well, ants are designed to survive floods and very soggy environments, but
it doesn't mean they are aquatic insects. They breathe through spiracles in
their abdomen. They close off the spiricals to keep the water out and can
remain in water for a while.
Yes, maybe depending on the temperature they might last a couple of weeks in a
kind of suspended animation condition. They sort of shut down for a while till
the flood waters recede and then start to come out of it. But they do not absorb
oxygen from the water or respire through some other process. Many insects can
survive being in water for awhile - but it doesn't mean they just go about their
business. They just remain alive till conditions get better (i.e. the water goes
away). As I mentioned above, the temperature will be important too: the cooler
they are, the less they move, the less energy they burn, and the less oxygen
they need. Also, different ants have different abilities for living in different
conditions. So while fire ants may survive some conditions, another species may
fare worse or better.