Something about ants

[SamBridge]

Not groundbreaking, but something I observed, almost scientifically. I saw a huge ant that was bigger than any I ever saw in the region before (except queen ants of course) and I got it into a very smooth ceramic container to study it. At first, it had much trouble doing even basic climbing. But, I noticed it stopped and did something with it's front two or four legs like running them through its mouth. I assumed at first that the ant was just cleaning its legs due to residual water from rain, but I noticed that it stuck a little better. It stopped another time and repeated this process, it stuck to the sides even better. When I looked to see what it was doing each time it stopped, I noticed its mandibles were extended and it was secreting an orange-substance from its mouth wile rubbing its legs through its mouth. After doing it for more than a few seconds, its legs were finally sticky enough to climb out of the ceramic jar, and thus I learned that ants put some kind of saliva on their legs to make them stick better.

Edited May 30, 2013 by SamBridge

[imatfaal]

Do it again and again. Take some photos. Try similar ants in rough sided but similarly shaped containers etc Write it up - see if it is new(ish) - publish, be a real scientist and gain bragging rights!

[Moontanman]

I'm not sure where you live but where I live giant ants are really solitary wingless wasps and can sting very badly so be careful...

[SamBridge]

Do it again and again. Take some photos. Try similar ants in rough sided but similarly shaped containers etc Write it up - see if it is new(ish) - publish, be a real scientist and gain bragging rights!

Based on the fact that I observed this phenomena so easily it is my guess that this trait of ants was discovered at least a decade ago. I did some googling and it appears this phenomena was already known. Still interesting though.

Edited May 31, 2013 by SamBridge