How Do Ants Use Tools?
WouterAlmost all studies of ants’ tool use have been conducted in artificial conditions. To document ant tool use, scientists would need to observe ants in the wild. This would be quite a task.
In some cases, ants use tools to carry food and liquids. Other studies have found that they are capable of building bridges. But there is a big mystery about tool use. How does an ant know what tool to use for a specific task?
Aphaenogaster ants are woodland ants. They are slender and have double-segmented waists. They are also capable of carrying 10 times more food with tools than with a crop. This suggests that tools may allow Aphaenogaster ants to compete successfully for food.
Tool use is most likely an adaptation to the harsh environment of an ant colony. They have limited space for carrying liquid food. When a colony is starved, ants may bury food to keep it from being noticed by competitors. They also regurgitate food inside the nest.
Researchers have also found that the black imported fire ants, a native species of South America, are able to carry liquid food from containers and float on sugar water surfaces. Their hydrophobic exoskeletons may help them to avoid drowning. They also use sand to draw liquid food out of containers.
Previously, researchers believed that invertebrates are hard-wired. But recent studies have shown that ants have an unusually high cognitive capacity. In one study, ants learned to choose the optimal tool for the task. In another study, ants formed rafts. The researchers also found that ants can recognize risk shifts.
