When my Camponotus discolor ants escape I find them "investigating" the Pogonomyrmex's nest. I think they have it out for the Pogonomyrmex. And if enough could get out they'd do some kind of horrible raid. Of course they won't ever get the chance. And one or two escaped ants is not a raid.
From a human perspective this is strange since to us the Pogonomyrmex are the most dangerous and mighty of my ants. They can sting! They have a hard exoskeleton and can survive being stepped on!
But, in ant terms they are weak. They aren't fast. They can't climb walls.
My Camponotus discolor colony is vicious. They have big numbers now so they have a lot of confidence.
When ants fight they fight as one. The first ant, often an older girl near the end of her two year long life goes for the jaws of the creature under attack. She wants to get bit! she wants to clamp on to the jaws, the best weapon and disable them.
Now younger ants each grab a leg or antennae and pull. Now the attacker (or future meal) is immobilized. They even do this ritual on the recently dead crickets I give them.
Practice.
Their organization is so elegant, and a little scary.
I remember the colony when it was younger. When they were scared of a crushed fruit fly if the leg twitched.
Two of my escapees killed a house spider. The other two were doing "reconnaissance" at the Pogonomyrmex's nest. I was like "excuse me ladies but this is NOT what we are doing today"
I let them keep the spider.
Everyone is back in their correct nest now.
