Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: gora on 11/02/2011 03:18:58

Title: What does a lost ant do?
Post by: gora on 11/02/2011 03:18:58
I have been wondering about this for years and stumbled on this site when I failed to get a proper info today from google search. So the question again-
What does an ant which is lost do? I mean most people know about ants and how they move around their nests but what really happens when they get lost? Do they just keep searching and eventually die of hunger? But I wouldn't think so because it's basic instinct of hunger would keep it alive but then where would it go? How long would it likely live when it gets truly lost?
Title: What does a lost ant do?
Post by: neilep on 11/02/2011 19:38:00
Don't lost ants use SANT NAV ?


sorry !! *le groan*
Title: What does a lost ant do?
Post by: Airthumbs on 11/02/2011 23:43:35
Ants as individuals and lost are considerably lower down the food chain then they are when they work together to collect the energy for the nest.

An ant that is lost will continue to search for the host colony, in some rare species a lost ant will be accepted by another nest.

On a positive note the ant can survive for several days without food but will die within 24hrs without water.
On a less positive note the lost, individual ant now lacks the protection of the host and is on this evenings menu for well over a 1000 species of other hungry animals.  To Be Continued............