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Trophallaxis

October 19, 2009 by myrmecos

obscuripes14

Formica obscuripes

Trophallaxis- the social sharing of regurgitated liquids- is a fundamental behavior in the biology of most ant colonies.  One ant approaches another, asks for a droplet of food, and if her partner is willing the two spend anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes in what is best described as a myrmecological french kiss.  The behavior is so central to the life of ants that the insects have an entire stomach, separate from their digestive gut, devoted as a reservoir for social sharing.

Although the act involves a transfer of food, it would be a mistake to think of the behavior as primarily a nutrient-dispersal mechanism. Ants do it far more frequently than nutrition requires.  Trophallaxis also transfers chemical signals among nestmates, regulating a singular colony odor and sharing information about the needs of the colony. Think of it as the colonies’ own internet.

Over the weekend I set out to rectify my rather embarrassing lack of decent trophallaxis photographs. We have a laboratory colony of Formica obscuripes that are ideal subjects, as these large ants are not only charismatic but engage in trophallaxis with what seems to be a nearly pathological frequency.  Here are a few of the better shots.

obscuripes10

obscuripes11

obscuripes13

To capture this series, I borrowed a technique from Benoit Guenard.  I set a tall tupperware container inside the open, fluon-lined plastic tub housing a large and active laboratory ant colony.  A 6″ square of white paper affixed to the top of the tupperware created a plain white platform.  In essence, I made a raised stage that allowed for photographing the ants in side view while still retaining them in their escape-proof nest.

Once the ants accept the structure they behave relatively normally on it, as if the platform were a natural extension of their territory.  A drop of honey water entices them to feed, followed minutes later by a predictable cascade of trophallaxis.

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Posted in Ants, Science | Tagged Ants, Insects, Photography, social insects, trophallaxis | 7 Comments

7 Responses

  1. on October 19, 2009 at 9:41 am Adrian Thysse

    Fantastic photographs. When you say these ants are large, what size do you mean?


    • on October 19, 2009 at 10:26 am myrmecos

      The largest workers are about 8mm long. Not huge by insect standards, but pretty big as far as ants go.


  2. on October 19, 2009 at 10:24 am Morgan Lythe

    Amazing photos.


  3. on October 19, 2009 at 5:03 pm pilgebump

    Are you using flash or a constant light source?


    • on October 19, 2009 at 5:57 pm myrmecos

      These are with the MT-24EX twin flash, diffused. The first two images were done with the two flash heads in their regular position. For the bottom two I hand-held one head behind the ants and turned down the power on the other.


  4. on October 19, 2009 at 5:59 pm jason

    Wow! And not just because the photos are spectacular–because they are…breathtaking in fact–but because this behavior is compelling in its intimacy and functionality.


  5. on October 21, 2009 at 5:10 am Andrew N

    So cool



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