No, ants do not cry. They lack the necessary anatomical structures, such as tear ducts, and the emotional capacity for crying.
Understanding Ant Anatomy and Physiology
Several sources confirm that ants lack the physical mechanisms required for crying. Their bodies are composed of a hard exoskeleton made of chitin, and they do not possess tear ducts or the physiological mechanisms associated with producing tears. This is confirmed by the zoology.science.narkive.com article which states explicitly that "Ants cannot cry. The ommitida is made of sclerotized chitin and they have no tear ducts."
Ant Behavior and Emotional Capacity
While ants exhibit complex social behaviors, including caring for their dead (as noted in the Quora article: https://www.quora.com/Do-ants-get-sad-when-another-ant-dies), this doesn't equate to human-like emotions such as sadness or crying. The evidence suggests they respond to stimuli based on instinct and chemical communication, not emotional responses like crying.
Furthermore, the common misconception of ants "screaming" is debunked. Several sources (https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1826, https://www.quora.com/Is-it-normal-for-ants-to-scream-Whenever-I-use-water-to-get-them-off-my-patio-I-hear-screeching) clarify that ants lack vocal cords and therefore cannot produce sounds that would resemble screams. Any perceived sounds are likely the result of other environmental factors or misinterpretations.
In summary, based on current scientific understanding, ants do not possess the biological or emotional capacity to cry.
