13 replies to this topic

[Xanuri]

FSTP and I had a brief chat the other day where he asked me if my C. fragilis post a guard at the entrance to the nest. My response was yes, there is always one there, unless spooked they may retreat but usually return in fairly short order. So I wanted to open this up as a topic of discussion in the following format:

 

1. If you are keeping C. fragilis have you noticed this behavior?
2. What detail can you share about the behavior with this sp.?
3. Do you have any other sp. that practices this behavior and if so what sp. is it, and any details?

 

From my observations of C. fragilis, I have seen them post two sentry's one at the nest entrance and another at the queen's chamber entrance, so even if the nest entrance worker leaves her post briefly to check on things or to venture slightly outside of the nest entrance the Queen's chamber sentry is there

 

Since my colony is small with only 6 workers, it might be easier to determine this behavior, but it is certainly interesting to watch.

 

I can definitely say with confidence that the S. xyloni colony I have do not exhibit this behavior at all, nor have I ever witnessed it in the S. sp. in the wild I guess for these ants there would be way too many entrances to guard and they don't worry about it due to sheer numbers.

 

What have you observed?

Edited by Xanuri, March 20 2019 - 8:42 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

All Camponotus I have seen do this too. Mainly though my Camponotus chromaiodes colony.

[Jadeninja9]

My Camponotus hyatti colony exhibits the same behavior. They have sentries at one outworld entrance and both nest entrances. They won’t budge from their positions even when you create a disturbance in the form of tapping or something.

[Xanuri]

Here is a pic of mine on sentry duty!

 

[TennesseeAnts]

They are very colorful ants. I going to have to settle for C. castaneus though.   

[Xanuri]

They are very colorful ants. I going to have to settle for C. castaneus though.   

We don't have those here in AZ.

[TennesseeAnts]

I know you don't. But I do!

[anttics]

I have video evidence. Once you get lots of majors maybe 50. They will have 3 to 4 majors in the entrace at all times. At night sentries double. With dozens of minors around the entrance. Majors heads covering most of the entrance. Ill video night activities. when I get a chance.

https://i.imgur.com/JngJfVT.gifv

[FSTP]

It seems some of my honey post have an ant worker hanging out around the entrance, but its not quite as disciplined and consistant as my Fragilis. In this video of mine you can see at the cork entrance that the worker sitting in the entrance does not leave her post. Then behind her there are a couple of majors. but ususally its just a normal worker in the entrance and then a major or two behind her.

 

 

Edited by FSTP, March 24 2019 - 1:26 AM.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Interesting. I'm totally going to check this out with C. fragilis. In a mini-hearth would the sentry be outside the nest in the outworld, or inside the nest? I haven't seen any staying outside the nest in the outworld. How long do they stay in place?

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, January 16 2020 - 4:47 PM.

[AntsBC]

I've observed my Formica pacifica, quite distinctively might I add, have workers guarding the tubing that connects their out world to their nest.  

[Manitobant]

Army ants such as eciton or dorylus often send out hundreds of sentries to guard their raiding columns. I've also seen this behavior in rufa group formica colonies, which have many workers on the surface of the mound or in the outworld with their gasters tucked in the defensive position.

[Serafine]

• 
  
• If you are keeping C. fragilis have you noticed this behavior?
• What detail can you share about the behavior with this sp.?
• Do you have any other sp. that practices this behavior and if so what sp. is it, and any details?

1. No.
2. -
3. Camponotus barbaricus (small colony had ants sitting at the entrances, large colony has ants sitting everywhere).
Myrmica rubra (colony of 200 ants, there's always 10-20 workers in front of the tube).

Edited by Serafine, January 17 2020 - 10:45 AM.

[ponerinecat]

Moat cephalotes species, colobopsis species, a few pheidole species, a few carebara species, and certain ants like proceratiines and a certain attine(forgot the name) will have gurad queens. Proceratiines uniquely using their abdomen segments as a shield.