Hobbies And Interests
Chemical Signals
Ants produce special chemicals called pheromones in their stomachs, which they emit through the ends of their abdomens as they walk along the ground. Each pheromone has a distinct scent that only fellow members of the same colony can recognize. Other ants smell the pheromone through their sensitive antennae and will follow the chemical trail to a food source.
Development of Trunk Trails
As a food source is discovered by more ants, the chemical trail becomes much stronger as each ant reinforces the pheromone scent and attracts more foraging ants. Thousands of ants may walk in a line following the trail to an abundant food source. An established foraging trail is often called a trunk trail that guides ants in a line in the general direction of food resources.
Finding New Food
Once a food resource has been depleted, foraging ants stray off the established pheromone trail and search for a new food source using other navigation skills, such as recognizing large landmarks or using the sun or moon for orientation. When a foraging ant discovers a new food source it finds its way back to the main trunk trail, walking only on the ground, so that other ants can easily follow and reinforce the chemical trail.
Significance
Aside from independent foragers, ants usually follow chemical trails in lines along the ground when collecting food. Pheromone trails that go over branches or leaves are easily lost if the object moves, which is why ants will often take long detours around physical objects in their path to remain on the ground, where the scent is sure to remain for other ants to follow.