Seil digging by the female ant

Authors

  • Fernando José Leite Ribeiro Universidade de São Paulo; Instituto de Psicologia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-51771995000100005

Keywords:

Ants, Animal excavation behavior, Animal instinctive behavior, Animal ethology

Abstract

After its nuptial flight, the female ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa excavates the soil, digging a vertical tunnel some 15 cm deep. At its end, the ant builds a chamber where it remains taking care of its fungus garden and brood. By means of laboratory observations and experiments, a description of the excavation and analysis of some of its causal factors are presented. Frequency, amplitude, orientation and speed of the ant’s behaviour are adjusted to the features of the substrate and functional consequences are achieved. In some way, the female ant must measure tunnel depth and that is the strongest determinant of the transition from tunnel digging to chamber digging.

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Published

1995-01-01

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (1995)

Section

Original Articles

License

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How to Cite

Seil digging by the female ant . (1995). Psicologia USP, 6(1), 75-93. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-51771995000100005