Comparison of foraging tool use in two species of myrmicine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract Many ant species are known to exhibit foraging tool use, during which ants place various debris items (e.g., pieces of soil, leaves, pine needles, etc.) into liquid food, and then they carry the food-soaked tools back nest. In present study, we compared tool-using behavior in captive colonies two closely related myrmicine with different feeding preferences: Aphaenogaster subterranea , an omnivorous species, Messor structor a mainly granivorous seed-harvester species. We supplied honey-water baits six types objects could use as tools: sand grains, small soil large sponges. found that workers A. both dropped more retrieved these than M. . While preferred smaller over larger ones, preferences for did not differ significantly from random. addition, dropping was faster retrieving began earlier For regularly utilize compete food sources, ability efficiently transport via may be important it is ants. Dropping liquids, however, still useful means supplement diet periods seed shortage also serve getting rid unwanted liquids close