Why Do Ants Join Other Colonies?
WouterWhether you are new to ant colonies or a seasoned veteran, you might wonder if ants join other colonies. There is no hard and fast rule, but there are several reasons why ants would want to join other colonies.
Depending on the species, ants have different genetic makeups. Some species of ants will never join another colony.
Another reason ants may join other colonies is because they can take advantage of another’s pheromone trail. This scent is a chemical that helps ants recognize their nest and mates.
An ant’s pheromone trail is also used to recognize other insects, particularly ones with a different odor. This helps ants avoid harmful insects.
Other reasons ants may join other colonies include resource shortage or safety. In order to survive, ants need to be able to protect their colony. They can also help expand their territory.
When ants join another colony, they must find a nest that belongs to the same species. The process is called colony co-founding.
Colonies of ants can be very large. Some are more than 100,000 ants strong. Some colonies even span miles.
Depending on the species, ant colonies are formed from thousands of workers and millions of nests. They can merge to meet demand, forming super colonies.
These super colonies are sometimes called collaborative colonies. The name is a bit of a misnomer because collaborative colonies are not founded by queens. Rather, unrelated queens usually carry out the co-founding process.
