I have criticisms of an ant study.
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I have criticisms of an ant study. (the behavior observation parts) But I need to read it again so that I'm certain I'm understanding what they did.
I think they isolated ants and observed them. And when you do that you get to see only one thing (except in very small ants) you see an ant trying to find her way back to her colony.
But this seems like such an obvious objection I'm going to read the thing again.
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I have criticisms of an ant study. (the behavior observation parts) But I need to read it again so that I'm certain I'm understanding what they did.
I think they isolated ants and observed them. And when you do that you get to see only one thing (except in very small ants) you see an ant trying to find her way back to her colony.
But this seems like such an obvious objection I'm going to read the thing again.
There are very few natural ant behaviors one could observe in a solitary ant. Possibly locomotion, maybe eating, possibly foraging ... until she realizes she can't get home.
Ants panic when cut off from the colony and just try to get home.
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There are very few natural ant behaviors one could observe in a solitary ant. Possibly locomotion, maybe eating, possibly foraging ... until she realizes she can't get home.
Ants panic when cut off from the colony and just try to get home.
They want to be in a pile. Unless they are very old or sick. Then they will avoid their sisters.
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I have criticisms of an ant study. (the behavior observation parts) But I need to read it again so that I'm certain I'm understanding what they did.
I think they isolated ants and observed them. And when you do that you get to see only one thing (except in very small ants) you see an ant trying to find her way back to her colony.
But this seems like such an obvious objection I'm going to read the thing again.
@futurebird Invading your thread bec it reminded me, I took this vid for you - how does the ant know the way home carrying such a huge (for an ant) caterpillar? I hope it means they’re clearing the caterpillars out of my lettuce bed!
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@futurebird Invading your thread bec it reminded me, I took this vid for you - how does the ant know the way home carrying such a huge (for an ant) caterpillar? I hope it means they’re clearing the caterpillars out of my lettuce bed!
A few ways she might know.
First is she can smell her nest and just go towards the smell, if it's not too far. She made have made a path of pheromones on her way out. Or perhaps another ant did if it's an area with a lot of food.
Lastly some ants use landmarks and the sunlight to navigate. Though this is more of a desert ant thing.
She is aware of the texture and profile of every surface and this can be a source of clues too.
She may, for example follow that crack.
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@futurebird Invading your thread bec it reminded me, I took this vid for you - how does the ant know the way home carrying such a huge (for an ant) caterpillar? I hope it means they’re clearing the caterpillars out of my lettuce bed!
Basically they have a whole host of strategies to get back home, and if they don't work they will wander in a search pattern until they pick up a trail or a landmark or scent that gets them back in the right direction.
Her antennae can still reach the ground and her eyes are on top of her head, so having something in her mandibles isn't really making it that much harder.
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@futurebird Invading your thread bec it reminded me, I took this vid for you - how does the ant know the way home carrying such a huge (for an ant) caterpillar? I hope it means they’re clearing the caterpillars out of my lettuce bed!
Oh, and YES they are eating those caterpillars. They love soft little ones like that. When I find them outside I bring them in as a treat for my pet colonies.
