Ants Expel Waste In Designated ‘Toilet’ Areas
- 9 years ago
Scientists have discovered that ants have designated toilet-like areas in their nests that are used to for bodily waste purposes only.
Ants appear to maintain designated toilet areas.
They were seen accumulating their bodily waste in specific corners of their nest that were not used for anything else, including the disposal of corpses and uneaten food.
This observation, the first of its kind, was made by researchers led by the University of Regensburg in Germany who were studying 21 lab-grown colonies of the widely found black garden ant.
The team created a sugar solution dyed red and blue and selectively fed each insect one of the colors.
After two months, patches of red and blue feces began appearing in the nest, especially the corners.
As to why the insects consolidate their waste, part of the reason may be out of the sheer organization needed to operate a colony of thousands in such a confined space.
Scientists also suspect there may be a “selective advantage” involved,
Ants appear to maintain designated toilet areas.
They were seen accumulating their bodily waste in specific corners of their nest that were not used for anything else, including the disposal of corpses and uneaten food.
This observation, the first of its kind, was made by researchers led by the University of Regensburg in Germany who were studying 21 lab-grown colonies of the widely found black garden ant.
The team created a sugar solution dyed red and blue and selectively fed each insect one of the colors.
After two months, patches of red and blue feces began appearing in the nest, especially the corners.
As to why the insects consolidate their waste, part of the reason may be out of the sheer organization needed to operate a colony of thousands in such a confined space.
Scientists also suspect there may be a “selective advantage” involved,