Oecophylla solvitensis
This tropical species of Weaver ant is characterized by its unique nests and subsequent foraging (or in this case, fishing) behavior. Watertight, boat shaped nests, composed of leaves, twigs, and larval silk, float on bodies of water, mostly around coasts. These nests can be anywhere from a few inches to over a meter long, depending on colony size. Afixed to the top of the nest is series of silk sails used by the ants for navigation. Within the nest, a complex matrix of worker chains shift in specific ways to coordinate sail movement. Nests are composed of multiple "decks" and chambers, with the uppermost decks being dedicated to the navigational matrix and the bottommost to the queen and brood (brood are periodically moved to the very top to receive warmth). On top, workers scout for visual ques, wind speed, and overall weather. Behind the nest, a large net composed of silk trails behind. The net is fine enough to capture zooplankton, and strong enough to capture small fish, both of which the colony consumes for protein (for sugar, nests make stops at nectar-producing plants to fill repletes, and then set sail again). In larger colonies, many nets may be present. In the event of a landing, workers will tie the nest to a stick or rock with larval silk to secure the nest.
Upon encountering a rival seafaring colony, workers will take positions on the top deck with their gasters facing out from the ship, ready to spray formic acid. Upon contact between nests, workers will storm the other colony's deck and make off with brood, repletes, or other valuables (aphids included). Larger colonies will often target smaller ones, using larval silk to bind the nests together for easy raiding. As a countermeasure against predators such as fish, workers periodically spray the hull of the nest with toxic chemicals. Workers also refrain from casting their dead overboard to prevent attraction of predators (the dead are deposited at the same stops used for sugar resupply). If the nest should sink, the colony will immediately form rafts to protect the queen and her brood.
During nuptial flights, nests will link up (with larval silk) to exchange alates (queens and males do not fly; it's be too dangerous). If the colonies are related to eachother, the nests are detatched by the workers and both nests sail off to find another potential mating colony. New queens are given nest-building supplies by the parent colony, who's workers also assist in new nest construction. The queen alone will pilot her nest until her nanitics arrive; in the meantime, she sticks close to one of her parent nests. When nanitics arrive, the queen sails to the shore, and the new workers gather materials to develop the nest.
During times of food scarcity or other inconvenient environmental conditions, nests will sail alongside other nests in "fleets" for protection. These massive fleets can reach up to 100 nests. On rare occasions, fleets will come upon rival fleets and result in, you guessed it, ant naval warfare. Battles can sometimes last for days.
On very, very rare occasions, fleets will establish permanent coastal settlements for easy resupply of sugar and building materials. Settlements consist of a leaf nest, usually in a low bush or at the base of a tree, and makeshift "docks" along the beach so ships can dock easily. Docks are guared vigorously to prevent rival fleets or nests from exploiting the settlement's resources.
Now have sweet dreams thinking of ant naval warfare.
Edited by TheMicroPlanet, April 21 2020 - 1:32 PM.
too far man
