How cyber-ants pick a new home
Boffins have attached tiny radio transmitters to the backs of ants to study how they select a new nest.The bugs - the ones on the rock ants back - measured just one two-thousandth the size of a postage stamp and were fitted by researchers at Bristol University.
They were then able to watch on a computer how the ants chose between two nest sites, a poor nest nearby and a better quality one further away.
Ants which found the poor nest first tended to carry on looking while those which came across the good one were more likely to settle there straight away.
On hearing the news the BBC are said to be considering commissioning a new ant-based series of 'To Buy or Not to Buy' given that no one is buying real homes at the moment.
Lead researcher Dr Robinson said: “Each ant appears to have its own ‘threshold of acceptability’ against which to judge a nest individually.
"Ants finding the poor nest were likely to switch and find the good nest, whereas ants finding the good nest were more likely to stay committed to that nest."
LINKS
Bristol University
"Ants finding the poor nest were likely to switch and find the good nest, whereas ants finding the good nest were more likely to stay committed to that nest."
LINKS
Bristol University
