Observing Ant Communication
Chapter 23: Arthropods

All ants are social insects that form societies similar to those of honey bees. Like honey bees, ants communicate the location of food sources to other ants in their society. You can observe how ants communicate with one another if you…

Try This

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1. Find an active anthill outdoors. Observe the ants' activity, being careful not to disturb or touch the ants.
2. Place a spoonful of honey on the ground about one meter away from the anthill.
3. Place a sheet of paper between the honey and the anthill. Over time, you will notice some ants, called scouts. These ants will find the honey and establish a chemical trail directly back to the anthill.
4. Once you observe that the ants are traveling back and forth on the trail regularly, turn the paper one-quarter so that the old trail on the paper is perpendicular to the original trail. Again, observe the ants.

Analyze Your Results

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1. How long did it take for the ants to establish the trail from the anthill to the honey?
2. How did the ants react when you turned the paper?
3. How long did it take the ants to reestablish the trail?

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