11 replies to this topic

[drtrmiller]

I connected my Solenopsis colony of a few thousand to my Camponotus colony, which has a few hundred workers. The behaviors that followed were fascinating to observe.

 

As the fire ants discovered the new foraging space that was occupied by the carpenter ants, a trail was laid and fire ant workers instantly streamed into the new foraging space until the nest was nearly empty.  While gaster flagging was an abundant defense, no biting/stinging of the carpenter ants was ever observed.

 

The carpenter ants, meanwhile, haphazardly defend their territory, with majors providing the main defense.  The majors sometimes chomp at the fire ants, biting them in half.  Other times, they tackle one and shoot a spray of formic acid—but the frequency of the action is intermittent at best. The carpenter ants wipe their faces on the ground when sprayed by the fire ant venom—it must be unpleasant stuff—but not a single carpenter ant falls.

 

There is no tangible alarm or panic on either side.  As time goes on, a liquid feeder is added within the fire ant's new territory, an area about the size of a CD.  The fire ants, whose army is now depleted in terms of advancement capability, struggle to hold their ground.  The perimeter of the fire ant's new territory is guarded by motionless workers, gasters raised, but non-threatening. The carpenter ants continue to whittle down the fire ants, slowly, but steadily diminishing their new territory gains.

 

Will the fire ants retreat back to their home turf and seal off the entrance to the place that caused their defeat, or will they maintain a small presence, undeterred?

Edited by drtrmiller, February 16 2016 - 6:49 AM.

[Barristan]

I also find it fascinating but you can't write about it because you are at once blamed for cruelty against animals... (at least in German ant forums, I don't know how it is here)

But I think if you are careful and intervene fast enough (so that no colony get's killed and casualties are kept low) it's no harm for the colonies. In nature ants also have competition. It's also fascinating to see how different ant species fight. Some use their mandibles to stretch enemies. Larger ants like Camponotus charge forward and try to bite of an enemy's head, antenna or leg. Others use their strong repellent (like Crematogaster). Ants with a stinger of course will try to make use of it.

 

I once connected a Pheidole spathifera colony to my small Polyrhachis dives colony. The Pheidole colony was larger so they could easily push back the Polyrhachis workers to their nest. But then it was more like a castle siege. They did not try to go inside the Polyrhachis dives' nest but just guarded the nest entrances. In the end the Polyrhachis dives colony was starving. The colony would have died of thirst so I stopped the experiment. I removed the Pheidole workers and disconnected both colonies. After that the remaining Pheidole workers got killed and Polyrhachis dives workers immediately went to the water and drank a lot. The Polyrhachis dives colony is still alive and doing fine. The Pheidole spathifera queen died last year.

 

In my garden I could also provoke a little war between Myrmica sp. workers and Camponotus vagus workers. The only thing I did was feeding some sugared water near the Camponotus vagus' nest. The Myrmica sp. workers discovered the food source first, but when Camponotus vagus workers discovered they destroyed the Myrmica sp. workers.

One and two half ants:

[drtrmiller]

As always, fantastic descriptions and photography.  Thanks for sharing!

Edited by drtrmiller, February 16 2016 - 7:33 AM.

[Barristan]

Thank you!

[dspdrew]

I understand the emotions of some ant-keepers, but I think it is only emotions, unless someone can explain why ants killing ants is cruelty, but ants killing crickets, flies, or meal worms is not.

 

I think if you did want to let two ant colonies come into contact with one another, you could do it by emulating much more distance between nests. If both colonies had large foraging areas of their own, with both being connected via very long coiled up tubes, to another common foraging area, you would have a much more realistic situation. Simply connecting two nests to the same foraging area, is like two nests sitting one foot from each other in the wild; both colonies would probably destroy each other, or there would be constant fighting.

[klawfran3]

Beautiful photos Barristan! The one with the Camponotus on the left in a row against the row of Myrmica looks like two legions in a war

 

So long as you don't introduce two colonies together until they both die or suffer heavy casualties, I'm fine with the odd experiment or two of them fighting to see what happens. They do it in nature, but the difference between in nature and in captivity is that we are able to intervene before anything gets too serious.

[gcsnelling]

From a cruelty point of view there is no difference between live food and  doing a fight. For me it comes down to the motivation behind forcing the fighting. If there is a legitimate research reason  for it which includes possible publication of unknown or rarely seen interactions then by all means go for it, however if you are doing it just because you can then it is totally senseless cruelty and of no value.

[antmaniac]

I actually have this type of plan in mind for the future. The nests outside, such as the Green-Headed ants in the container with soil, are been raided by the black ants every day. I have provided them surplus food such as rotten fruits. So far 2 colony of the black ants outside had died from the raid of wild ants.

 

Due to the nature and growth rate of the Green-Headed ants, I may connect the Camponotus sp to this nest in the future. However, for the Pheidole, they will be connected to a separate outworld due to the fast growth rate. Maybe if the Anonychomyrma is fast growing, I may connect them together, will have to see.

 

Regardless, all of them will have their own smaller outworld, but I doubt this will stop other species from raiding the others. 

[drtrmiller]

I, too, would like to design a formicarium system that would allow for ants to interact.

I envision multiple nests connected to individual foraging areas. The foraging areas would then connect to a central foraging area where the ants could potentially meet, being restricted by gates that could be opened and closed independently, to prevent an unintended massacre of an entire colony.

It would be really interesting to observe the interactions and competition for resources like food and water.

Edited by drtrmiller, February 16 2016 - 4:49 PM.

[anttics]

I would only do it for population control. if two colonies get too big. I'll create a new forage area unknown to them. then connect their own forage area to the new middle one. by on tube each. I'm sure. they will avoid each other if numbers are low. but when they explore in numbers. they will fight. I would do it as long as I'm present. to stop if things get out of hand. I also read that ants develops bigger size workers when exposed to competition. so you might see even bigger majors if your colony is at war. it's a theory. I forgot where I read it. it applies to my ants Veromessor pergandei. which develops bigger majors if they have competition. or so the study said. this might explain why I only have 3 super majors in a colony of 350 workers.

[Penguin]

what's with you and the necro?    This post is almost two years old....

[Reevak]

Will the fire ants retreat back to their home turf and seal off the entrance to the place that caused their defeat, or will they maintain a small presence, undeterred?

 

What happened?