Do Ants Ever Stop Working?
WouterSeveral researchers have studied ants and have come to the conclusion that a large percentage of them are not actually doing any work. This study, which used 250 ants in five different colonies, found that only about half of them were actually working, and half were never seen working.
Researchers also found that a large proportion of ants took breaks. These breaks were not the usual ten to fifteen minutes breaks we take, but were more like five to 10 minutes long. These breaks did not seem to be related to how long the ants worked. However, the researchers found that the majority of ants took the same break at the same time.
Researchers tested the effects of fatigue on labor dynamics in insect societies. They found that inactive ants replaced the top twenty percent of the most active workers. This should provide some benefit to the colony when the more active workers become fatigued. The researchers suggest that inactive ants may have specific tasks that are only performed at certain times. This suggests that ants may be working in secret.
Researchers also found that the best explanation of the inactivity of the ants is not related to the number of ants in the colony, or the number of hours the ants work. Instead, the inactivity may be a function of the colony’s social structure.
Researchers also found that the most important thing to do to solve the problem of inactivity is to have a system for dividing labor. By doing so, the colony can guarantee continual support for its young.
