14 replies to this topic

[futurebird]

Different types of ants panic in different ways.
Lasius: running in different random directions, scatter, take the pupae with them
camponotus: Freeaze.  Lay flat. Try to blend into the wood.
pogonomyrmex: ATTACK bite anything new, run towards the danger and sting it.

nylandria: what is danger? I'm so small I have not noticed the danger.
formica: A combination of the scatter and ATTACK reaction... only *anything* will set it off. A board creaked in the next room? Time to freak tf out.

 

I suspect that these reactions are related to the kind of dangers they face in the wild. Lasius ants are small enough that if they just just run and hide the problem is solved. Pogonomyrmex, have a sting that's painful even to large mammals, so why not stand your ground? Camponotus ants really don't want the main nest to be discovered, and the trees they live in move in the wind... so making a fuss might draw more attention. 

 

Nylandria just aren't tuned into things beyond their tiny scale. They are very brave fighters of fruit flies and overcurious springtails... but they can't conceive of anything as big as a person. 

 

The formica ants have good enough eyesight that they can clearly see me. They see me through the glass walking around and are just horrified by the giant monster who clearly wants to eat them. 

 

How do your ants react when nervous?

[DDD101DDD]

My Camponotus will run out in all directions at max speed.

[Manitobant]

Rufa group formica: run around, attack and spray acid everywhere, potentially gassing themselves in the process

Myrmica rubra: swarm into the outworld and try to sting anything that moves

Messor: grab all their brood and run into the outworld

Temnothorax: don’t care at all, barely even react

Tapinoma: run around everywhere and attempt to escape

Edited by Manitobant, October 3 2021 - 12:08 PM.

[azzaaazzzz00]

My Camponotus Pennsylvanicus colony when I bump into a table 10 yards away: SCREW DA NEST, RUN AND THROW BROOD WHEREVER YOU CAN, EVACUATE QUEEN!!!!!!. I honestly don't get why they expose the entire colony to the outside world (outworld) when in danger, isn't the point to either run, hide, or just send just the WORKERS to battle. Throwing brood in random directions is like saying to the predator: HERE TAKE THIS NICE BIG JUICY LAVAE AND THIS PILE OF THE REST OF OUR BROOD, SAVE QUEEN FOR DESSERT.

[PetsNotPests]

Camponotus sansabeanus: Workers panic, run as far away from the threat as physically possible, queen darts up to threat, tries (And fails) to deal with threat. Great job evolution! 

 

Liometopum occidentale: Workers & queen grab every last ounce (And there are ounces) of brood, run as fast as gravity lets them out of the small gap that I somehow overlooked.

 

Myrmecocystus mimicus: V I B E 

 

Formica podzolica: Queen literally dies. No joke. 

Edited by PetsNotPests, October 3 2021 - 6:17 PM.

[SYUTEO]

Anochetus: Run towards any spot they think is safe.

 

Camponotus irritans: Runs inside their test tube.

 

Camponotus parius: Quickly grab their brood and pile together on top of each other.

 

Euponera: Runs everywhere and tries to escape.

 

Most of my other ants: Run towards their queen and brood.

 

Lepisiota rothneyi: Goes CRAZY and ATTACK everything they touch.

Edited by SYUTEO, October 3 2021 - 7:00 PM.

[JCRHJM]

Rhytidoponera: run out and sting

Myrmecia: "Spartans? What is your profession??!!"

[ANTdrew]

Crematogaster: briefly pause escape plans, then return to escape attempts.

[GreekAnts]

Messor: When I just remove the test tube cover carefully they panic and run out of the nest, some workers take brood with them and the queen starts running out as well.. this can happen in the outworld too, if I go too close or make a move they will start panic and run in full speed into the nest.
Before 2 days a worker was trying to remove the cotton ball from the second entrance in the outworld and when I went closer to watch it and started run around in panic and entered the nest.

[Chickalo]

In my experience:

 

Camponotus:  Runs away from the scene as fast as possible, coming back a couple minutes later to retrieve their younger sisters they left behind with the mostly bald mammal.

 

Myrmica:  Everyone participates in the death of said person who opened their nest, oh the grave mistake they made.

 

Formia:  I've literally never seen non-parasitic formica make nests above ground, so let's assume the ones in my area gained super-ant senses and can tell when I'm boutta open their nest.

 

Pogonomyrmex:  My queen literally died due to me opening their nest to feed them, jeez their sensitive lads (lasses?).

 

Lasius:  Someone opened our nest?  (two seconds later)  Someone opened our nest!  Panik

 

Crematogaster:  Oh, guess our nest is exposed now.  Welp, time to bring our brood farther down into the nest in a calm manor.

 

Parasitic formica:  INSTA PANIK 

[eea]

camponotus: move their larvae from a bright place to an even brighter place

[Triggerhippy888]

As well as the reactions of the workers I love the reactions of the Queens. 

 

Lasius Queen, if I stick my head underneath something and I can't see you it means you can't see me, right? No my big fat behind isn't a consideration. 

[That_one_ant_guy]

Brachymyrmex patagonicus- SCREW THE QUEENS, RUNNNNN!!
Solenopsis-Nah it's fine just send in more workers

Edited by That_one_ant_guy, October 4 2021 - 2:02 PM.

[MysticNanitic]

My C. quercicola go from their usual standing around impersonating tiny (big) ant statues to a brisk walking pace, with a few working their way up to the top edge of the glass then stopping there with open jaws pointed up like baby birds wanting food, or more likely- grumpy ants hoping to pinch a finger.

On another note, Freebird I knew this post was yours before I opened it, your style of title. Thanks, I appreciate you.

On a third note, whenever I see your name I’m forced to remember a restaurant I miss in Temecula CA, called Freebirds, sadly it closed a few years ago great burritos!

[Topgun757]

What I’ve seen with some wild C. Novaeboracensis colonies is that when I go too close or disturb their home they start biting and spraying acid all over the place (sometimes aimed at my face lol)

Edited by Topgun757, October 10 2021 - 9:55 AM.