Development of Behavioral Skills in Myrmica Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) through Varied Nest Illumination

Abstract

Myrmica ruginodis ants were trained through varied light signals (continuous or intermittent illumination) to find a feeder at one of the two exits (bridges) to the arena. The ants very quickly, after 3 presentations, became capable of learning how to find the feeder using signals (other than illumination) inadvertently provided by the researcher. In the first series of experiments, the ants learned to navigate through the simulated “sky” pattern to determine the feeder location on a transparent arena positioned 30 cm above the nest substrate. In the second series, they learned to respond to the scent of honey solution at a distance of several meters by mass mobilization to both exits to the arena. It took a long time to develop behavioral skills to use the illumination pattern, without visible progress, and these skills appeared in an insight-like manner only by the 20th presentation.