HOW ANTS COMMUNICATE 



5.15 P.M. the marked ant was again put to the larvae. 

 Once more she went home empty handed, and, after only 

 a few seconds' stay, came out of the nest with thirteen 

 friends, and all went toward the larvae. 



In this case the twenty -one ants must have been 

 brought out by the marked one, for they came exactly 

 with her, and no others were out. Moreover, they must 

 have been told, since in neither trip did she bring a 

 larva with her, and the sight thereof could not have led to 

 her being trailed, though of course it is just possible that 

 a faint odor clinging to her from contact with the larvae 

 may have given a signal that caused her to be followed. 



Good examples of antennal parley occur in the preda- 

 tory expeditions of slave-making ants. From the nests 

 of the sanguine slave-maker (Formica sanguinea-rubi- 

 cunda), studied in New Jersey, scouts were seen to be sent 

 out to discover and locate the nests .of the SchaufTuss 

 and Fuscous ants (Formica Schauflusi and Formica 

 subsericea). When these \vere successful, they hastened 

 home with their antennal message, and soon the plun- 

 dering raid was in full heat. Forel describes the same 

 conduct as habitual with the amazon ants (Polyergus 

 rufescens) of Switzerland. Moreover, he relates that in 

 case of uncertainty as to the right route, the column 

 will halt, and wait \vhile the scouts go forward and locate 

 the nest of the predestined victims. Returning, the 

 antennae play vigorously between couriers and column, 

 and the piratical excursion advances. 



One example more. At Faisons, North Carolina, Doc- 

 tor Forel, during his visit to the United States, found in a 

 rotten log a nest of the totally blind little Eciton Carolin- 

 ense. He captured the colony, and put it under observa- 

 tion. The ability of these ants to find their way about 



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