Effect of Chemical and Visual Cues in the Maze Performance of the Ant Dinoponera quadriceps

Abstract

Ants use chemical, visual, magnetic and/or solar cues during foraging activity. Orientation is important, since foragers need to return to the nest. In this study, we analyze the maze performance of the Dinoponera quadriceps using chemical and visual cues to study spatial orientation. We used a white maze with seventeen chambers and we allowed the ants to explore for ten minutes in each session. Six treatments performed by manipulating presence or absence of chemical and visual cues. Two treatments occurred in the presence and absence of odor, but without visual cues. In four treatments, we introduced visual cues, in two upper visual cues and in two frontal visual cues, both with and without odor. Our results showed that both chemical and visual cues improve maze performance during ant movement to the food source and to the nest. We suggest bimodal navigation in D. quadriceps. The association of multiple cues (chemical and visual) improves workers navigation performance, which probably enhances foraging rate and individual fitness.