5 replies to this topic

[ConcordAntman]

I have 3 colonies of Camponotus sp. I’ve wondered why I find them piling soil on the uneaten food left in their feeding dishes. I accidentally found the answer in Bert Hölldobler & E. O. Wilson’s 1990 book, The Ants. In chapter 7 (on communication) page 296, the section on necrophoresis (corpse removal). It seems to be a stereotyped behavior triggered by decomposing material. In the case of large objects, “They respond to disagreeable but immovable objects by covering them with pieces of soil and nest material.” Perhaps I should read more and change the food dishes more frequently 😳.

[dominatus]

I have 3 colonies of Camponotus sp. I’ve wondered why I find them piling soil on the uneaten food left in their feeding dishes. I accidentally found the answer in Bert Hölldobler & E. O. Wilson’s 1990 book, The Ants. In chapter 7 (on communication) page 296, the section on necrophoresis (corpse removal). It seems to be a stereotyped behavior triggered by decomposing material. In the case of large objects, “They respond to disagreeable but immovable objects by covering them with pieces of soil and nest material.” Perhaps I should read more and change the food dishes more frequently .

Huh, I always figured they were just a--holes making a mess...

Edited by dominatus, August 14 2019 - 12:25 PM.

[ANTdrew]

I just went to the library today looking for this book, but it had been removed from the shelves. It’s over $100 on Amazon.

[MrPurpleB]

So just to make sure I understand, they pile dirt or other substrate in order to maintain cleanliness in their nest and prevent the spread of mold and bacteria from the corpse

[ConcordAntman]

I just went to the library today looking for this book, but it had been removed from the shelves. It’s over $100 on Amazon.

I was lucky, I got my copy as a gift in 1992. It’s a great book. A comprehensive study of the species. I’m surprised your library has taken it out of circulation. Any chance you could get it by inter-library loan?

[ConcordAntman]

So just to make sure I understand, they pile dirt or other substrate in order to maintain cleanliness in their nest and prevent the spread of mold and bacteria from the corpse

That’s pretty much it. The excerpt I quoted was in the chapter discussing communication, under the section titled Necrophoresis (corpse removal). Ants are generally fastidious. While this isn’t actually one ant communicating with another, the authors felt the behavior was mediated through a similar mechanism. The odor (or chemical stimulus) emanating from a dead ant or from decaying material in a nest signals the workers to remove the object. When the object is too large to move, they cover it likely for the reasons you mention.