
ENT532 Fall 2024: Image of ant (Formicidae) on sugar
This photo of an ant was taken on East Waring Avenue in State College, PA. After noticing ants (Formicidae) of multiple different species on a residential sidewalk, I became curious whether the different species interacted or influenced each others’ behavior. I poured a small pile of granulated sugar onto the sidewalk and observed it for about one hour (2024-09-15T17:18:00/2024-09-15T18:29:00) to see whether multiple species of ants would be attracted to the sugar and what types of interactions they may have when both visiting the sugar. I noted two primary species on the sidewalk; one was black and larger and the other was brown and smaller. After about 20 minutes, the first ant approached the sugar pile. It walked slowly over the pile, moving its antennae. I suspect it was evaluating the sugar as a food source. It then appeared to begin to eat the sugar. I was curious what drove its decision to eat the sugar at the site rather than return it to the nest. Are there circumstances under which they are more likely to act “selfishly”, eating the food for themselves rather than returning it to the nest? I noticed another ant walk directly over the sugar, showing no interest in it. This made me wonder what drives the decision of whether to stop and pursue a source of food. Does it depend on which nutrients the colony requires at a given time?
There were few interactions between ants at the sugar and I never observed more than two ants feeding at a time, nor did I see a black and brown ant at the sugar simultaneously. At one point, however, a black and brown ant appeared to briefly fight near the sugar before both quickly walking in different directions. I also noticed that when ant approached the sugar while another ant was feeding, the feeding ant would abruptly stop eating for one or two seconds before resuming. I suspect this behavior is the ants assessing a threat and then determining that it is safe to continue feeding.
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Work Title | ENT532 Fall 2024: Image of ant (Formicidae) on sugar |
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License | CC0 1.0 (Public Domain Dedication) |
Work Type | Image |
Publication Date | September 24, 2024 |
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DOI | doi:10.26207/97fg-4d52 |
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Deposited | September 24, 2024 |
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