Ant counts the steps to find the way home

The researchers found that ants use a biological step meter to find their way home without fear of being lost.

Ants count steps to find their way home (Photo: Livescience) Desert ants on the journey to feed use the clues in the sky to navigate the way home. But with very few marks on the vast void, scientists wonder why these insects always choose the shortest path and know exactly how far they have to go.

New research shows that counting steps is an important part of this strategy.

Over the years, scientists have proposed many theories about how to find a way home.

One of them is that they breed bees, remember image clues, but experiments show that ants can move in the dark, and even when blindfolded. Another hypothesis is rejected because the ants are at a stable speed, they can determine the time of going and returning. Other research shows that once ants find food sources, they teach other children how to get there.

When an ant found the source of food, they taught other children how to get there (Photo: Livescience) In 1904, the technical theory of measuring the footsteps of ants was proposed, but still not verified.

Now scientists have trained desert ants, Cataglyphis fortis, let them take a straight path from the nest to the food storage area 914 cm away. If the nest or food storage area is moved, the ants will know how to turn and look for new targets.

Next, the researchers performed a minor surgery. They attached a pedestal-like part to ants to extend their stride. They also shortened the footsteps of ants by cutting their legs short.

By transforming the stride, researchers can tell whether they use a meter-like mechanism to measure distances, or count steps with a biological step meter.

As a result, ants with stilts still have enough footsteps but due to longer strides, they have surpassed the target. The ants whose legs were cut off stopped in front of the target.

After getting used to the new leg, the ants can adjust their step meter and head home more accurately. This proves that ants count steps to determine the path.

MT