There are an ant colony inside my house so I’m thrilled to being able to study them closely. Recently I’ve noticed a couple of ants would bend down to lick end of their abdomen. Anybody know why?
ie: Spotted an ant approached a dead ant near their nest then next thing she did was bending down and licking abdomen.
Correct me if I’m wrong, ants spread out their pheromones by rubbing their abdomen on ground, right? Does it has something to do with their licking it?
Ant’s abdomen
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Re: Ant’s abdomen
From what I read up sometime on the web, ants tend to drink their formic acid and even spray them around the nest to eliminate parasites. I normally see the workers in my colony doing it literally all the time but mostly after they have been fedOatstheAntMan wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 1:11 pmThere are an ant colony inside my house so I’m thrilled to being able to study them closely. Recently I’ve noticed a couple of ants would bend down to lick end of their abdomen. Anybody know why?
ie: Spotted an ant approached a dead ant near their nest then next thing he did was bending down and licking abdomen.
Correct me if I’m wrong, ants spread out their pheromones by rubbing their abdomen on ground, right? Does it has something to do with their licking it?
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Re: Ant’s abdomen
Interesting. Heres a theory, maybe like you said the ant I saw near dead body was spreading it on the area near nest to prevent parasites from the dead body from harming the nest? Because she immediately started doing it right after discovered the dead body.
I find it fascinating that formic acid hurts others but not ants themselves, heck they’re drinking it!!
I find it fascinating that formic acid hurts others but not ants themselves, heck they’re drinking it!!
Re: Ant’s abdomen
Lol.. that's nature for youOatstheAntMan wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 2:27 pmInteresting. Heres a theory, maybe like you said the ant I saw near dead body was spreading it on the area near nest to prevent parasites from the dead body from harming the nest? Because she immediately started doing it right after discovered the dead body.
I find it fascinating that formic acid hurts others but not ants themselves, heck they’re drinking it!!
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Re: Ant’s abdomen
She may also be cleaning it. My ants once used all their Formic acid(I know Becuase it wouldn’t work on the flies anymore and they would be so confused after that fly got away) they will clean it after using it. Queens also clean their gaster if a male or unknown substance has been there.OatstheAntMan wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 2:27 pmInteresting. Heres a theory, maybe like you said the ant I saw near dead body was spreading it on the area near nest to prevent parasites from the dead body from harming the nest? Because she immediately started doing it right after discovered the dead body.
I find it fascinating that formic acid hurts others but not ants themselves, heck they’re drinking it!!
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