How Ants Find Food
WouterUnlike other insects, ants have an extensive sense of smell. This sense allows them to find food. In fact, ants can detect chemical substances as small as four to five times the size of other insects.
During their daily searches for food, ants use a series of landmarks and structural guidelines to orient themselves. They also use visual cues to navigate.
As they forage, ants leave pheromone trails that lead to food. Other ants follow these trails to find food. They also pick up the pheromones left behind by scout ants.
Once ants find food, they take it back to the nest. They store it in a social stomach. They then use a chemical scent to help them find their way home. This chemical scent is twice as strong as the others.
Using a chemical scent helps scout ants find the shortest route to the nest. It also helps worker ants find food.
Once they find food, ants use a pheromone trail to guide themselves back to their colony. They follow a trail shaped like a dashed green line. The trail has twists and turns as it passes through a complex terrain.
These trails are also heavily trafficked. As more ants use the trail to find food, the trail becomes stronger. This means that ants are more likely to use the shortest route.
In addition to their sense of smell, ants have an antenna that they use to detect compound presence. In addition, they use polarized light patterns to navigate. They also use landmarks to locate their nest.
