Summary
Leptothorax unifasciatus workers use both chemical and visual cues when foraging. A visual orientation based on menotactical cues (60 watt light-bulb) and environmental cues (laboratory surroundings) dominate over a chemical orientation. The learning response to a 60 watt light-bulb cue occurs after a single trip to the food source.
Workers lay down a trail when foraging which helps them to orient themselves but does not recruit other nestmates. Such trails are distinguished and preferred even when superposed by several other nestmates' trails. Nevertheless, the foragers are able to follow their nestmates' trails if their own is somehow missing. Newly recruited ants are unable to orient along chemical trails.
Resume
Les ouvrières deLeptothorax unifasciatus utilisent des repères chimiques et des repères visuels au cours des activités de fourragement. Cependant, une orientation ménotactique (ampoule lumineuse de 60 watt) et reposant sur des repères visuels ambiants domient une orientation chimique. Un trajet effectué vers la nourriture suffit aux ouvrières pour s'orienter ensuite sur une ampoule lumineuse.
Les ouvrières tracent une piste au cours du fourragement n'ayant pas fonction de recrutement, mais agissant comme repère orientationnel individuel. Ces pistes sont distinguées et préférées même lorsqu'elles sont superposées à plusieurs autres. Néanmoins, les ouvrières acceptent de suivre les pistes de leurs congénères en l'absence de leur propre piste. Les ouvrières nouvellement recrutées sont incapables de s'orienter sur les pistes chimiques.
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Aron, S., Deneubourg, J.L. & Pasteels, J.M. Visual cues and trail-following idiosyncrasy inleptothorax unifasciatus: An orientation process during foraging. Ins. Soc 35, 355–366 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02225811
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02225811