7 replies to this topic

[futurebird]

If you watch ants enough you've seen the kind of leg twitching ants do some of the time when they are just standing in one place. 

 

For an example see the callow at the start and end of the video who is doing the twitch when she's resting. 

 

https://www.tiktok.c..._from_webapp=v1

 

Why do ants do this?

 

Is it to keep their hemolymph moving? For exercise? I have not seen it as often since it became cold. And younger ants seem to do it more...

 

Thoughts?

 

 

[KadinB]

My Solenopsis xyloni will do a twerking motion with their butts. They will just be chillin on top of the brood and start to do it out of nowhere really fast. Not sure why they do it tbh. 

[eea]

My ants also twitch their legs its really weird.

[KadinB]

I got my answer

 

"Alot of solenopsis do that. They Bob the gaster to get the venom ready to be used. Pretty much they do it when they are getting annoyed"

[futurebird]

That makes sense for the gaster twitching... but I don't think the leg twitching is annoyance. They do it when they are in the nest or resting.

[ANTdrew]

Crematogaster waggle their butts up and down when they try foods they like and at other random times. It’s one of the cute reasons I put up with all their mischief.

[PaigeX]

That makes sense for the gaster twitching... but I don't think the leg twitching is annoyance. They do it when they are in the nest or resting.

Maybe dreaming? Or a sign of submission? 
 

[futurebird]

I don't know if submissive has any meaning within an ant colony. Between colonies ... maybe. But in a single colony every ant is doing what she wants mostly. 

 

I think it might be physiological. Something about circulation, or heat regulation or... IDK wafting air over the body?