12 replies to this topic

[Cindy]

Context: On 4/2/17 I found a solitary Prenolepis imparis worker out foraging on a rock. The rest of the ground was covered in dark leaf litter.  I did not do an extensive search but was only able to find that one worker.

 

I kept the worker for observation for a day and set it free at the original rock the next day. I had planned to follow it back to its nest, but when I tapped the test tube gently it fell out of the tube and bounced off the rock. lol.

 

So my question is, how far will ants travel from their nest to forage? Is it likely that the nest will be close to where I found the worker or will it be miles away? 

Edited by Cindy, April 6 2017 - 9:21 AM.

[thosaka]

I don't have a definitive answer, but I saw this really long line of workers that stretched at least 120 meters or so in Cleveland National Forest. I'd assume they go as far as they can depending on their energy lvl to and from the final destination. I really want to know as well.

[MichiganAnts]

from what i've been told ants can travel up to 3 football fields from the nest to forage

[Martialis]

It really depends upon the species.

[noobkeeper]

Yesterday I found a lot of Lasius niger workers. They were following a trail and it was long about 40m. Bigger the colony further away the workers will travel I guess, but they can go out for a pretty long distance.

[Batspiderfish]

Prenolepis imparis nests are pretty inconspicuous. There's no way of knowing where it came from unless you could follow it.

Edited by Batspiderfish, April 6 2017 - 10:28 AM.

[Cindy]

Prenolepis imparis nests are pretty inconspicuous. There's know way of knowing where it came from unless you could follow it.

 

That was my original plan until my reflexes failed me. Our temps are going to hit the high 70s next week and I'm hoping for a bit more activity esp with expected flights. Hopefully by then I'll be able to follow at least one back to the nest. ^^

[Works4TheGood]

Sounds hard to tell how far the nest is. Especially since you don't know whether the ant is making a trail or following one. Finally, I don't know how long an ant can track its own trail since they ware off over time, which means that letting the and lose the next day might be a lost cause. Not sure.

[Cindy]

Sounds hard to tell how far the nest is. Especially since you don't know whether the ant is making a trail or following one. Finally, I don't know how long an ant can track its own trail since they ware off over time, which means that letting the and lose the next day might be a lost cause. Not sure.

Oh shoot. Best-case scenario would be that it found another worker's trail and made its way back somehow. In the future I will only collect workers if I see a nest and multiple workers nearby like I did with the Tetramorium. 

[Nathant2131]

I agree with Batspiderfish: P. imparis nests are tough to find. I find them under things a lot, even mounds under leaf litter.

[Cindy]

I agree with Batspiderfish: P. imparis nests are tough to find. I find them under things a lot, even mounds under leaf litter.

 

Yeah, I saw your video in the Mass Anting thread-- It seems that the nests are well-hidden. If I do find a nest, it will more than likely be the result of fortuitous timing.

[drtrmiller]

In addition to what has been said, above, workers from very young, incipient colonies tend to not go very far at all. My observation with captive ants is that a colony with a couple workers usually thrives best when the nest is situated right on top of food and other resources. As the colony grows in number and age, the older, more mature workers appear to explore and forage across greater distances.

Edited by drtrmiller, April 6 2017 - 2:27 PM.

[Serafine]

My Camponotus colony has 6 workers and the green circle is how far they currently go unless they are really hungry (then they would go through the entire setup but as long as they don't really have to they're staying very close to home).

 

Edited by Serafine, April 6 2017 - 9:52 PM.