An Unprecedented Group Behavior, Previously Undocumented, Has Been Observed In Ant Colonies
Scientists in Australia have made a groundbreaking discovery involving a defense mechanism seen in the animal kingdom: Playing Dead. However, this particular instance is unlike anything previously documented. Entire ant colonies were observed engaging in a collective behavior of feigning death, marking a remarkable find.
The strategy of appearing dead is commonly employed by various animals, as it deters predators who typically show no interest in consuming already deceased prey. The North American opossum, renowned for its proficiency in this behavior, has even popularized the phrase “playing possum.” Additionally, this deceptive tactic can be observed in numerous mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.
Typically, when facing danger, certain species of ants employ the strategy of feigning death, although it is commonly observed in individual insects. However, scientists have recently made an intriguing finding: an entire colony of Polyrhachis femorata ants engaging in this behavior.
Nesting Boxes
During their investigation of nesting boxes for wildlife on Kangaroo Island, researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) made an unexpected discovery. While examining a nesting box, they stumbled upon a box filled with deceased ants.
Initially, they didn’t pay much attention to it. However, their perception changed when one inexperienced observer unintentionally disrupted the act by moving, thus spoiling the performance of all the ants. Throughout the project, the team consistently witnessed this dramatic scene unfold repeatedly.
Associate Professor S. “Topa” Petit described the mimicry as flawless, stating that such defensive immobility is recognized in only a limited number of ant species, either in certain individuals or specific casts.
However, until now, there have been no known instances of entire ant colonies exhibiting this behavior. Within the nesting boxes housing colonies of Polyrhachis femorata, it was observed that some individuals took longer to cease movement, while others did not stop at all. Understanding the exact triggers for this behavior poses a challenge to researchers.
The research team anticipates that this collective behavior of feigning death, scientifically known as thanatosis, is likely to be discovered in other ant species as well. This finding is expected to provide valuable insights into the lesser-explored world of insects and aid researchers in expanding their knowledge about these fascinating creatures.
Read The Original Article NewAtlas.
Read more: Teaching Ants To Detect Cancerous Tumors In Mice Through Their Sense of Smell.
