Description
Features |
Length of V-shaped branches: 8cm |
Angle of branches to the axis of the center:60o |
Length of link between branches: 2cm |
Length of link between maze and feeder: 2cm |

Introduction
The ant sucrose feeder is employed to study how ants collectively prefer paths based on distance and food source accessibility. It assesses route memory by offering two paths of differing lengths to the same food source, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying ants’ decision-making processes. This device is valuable for creating various experimental setups involving memory and pheromones to test ants.
Pheromone deposition on the substrate significantly influences the collective decision-making of ants. However, individual behaviors and private information also impact group decisions. Combining private and social information in making composite path choices and organizing ants enhances collective decision-making effectiveness (T. Czaczkes, J. Czaczkes, Iglhaut, & Heinze, 2015). The design and specific treatments of the ant sucrose feeder challenge ants’ decision-making abilities in complex environments.
The ant sucrose feeder features a diamond-shaped maze that offers two distinct path choices for foraging. Decision points near the maze’s entrance and exit serve as critical decision-making junctures for the subjects. This design enables foragers to choose their paths while moving toward the feeder or returning to the nest. Other devices used to assess memory, learning, and decision-making in ants include the Ant Y Maze, Ant Double Bifurcation T, Ant T Maze, and Ant Binary Tree Maze.
Apparatus and Equipment
The ant sucrose feeder features a diamond-shaped maze composed of two V-shaped branches connected via their arms. Each side of the V-shaped branch measures 8 cm in length. This maze guides ants from their nest to the sucrose feeder containing the food source. Each branch is positioned at a 60-degree angle relative to the center axis to minimize any influence on ants’ decision-making caused by the branch orientation. A short 2 cm section connects the longer branch to the shorter branch at both ends. The maze connects to the feeder and nest at opposite ends through a small 2 cm bridge.
Training Protocol
To enhance subjects’ motivation for foraging, maintain them in a food-deprived state for 4 days before testing. Cleanse the apparatus with ethanol before and after each trial to eliminate any lingering pheromones. Utilize external tracking and recording systems like Noldus Ethovision XT to monitor and analyze the behavior of ants interacting with the ant sucrose feeder.
Data Analysis
Following parameters are observed when using ant sucrose feeders
- Number of ants at each feeder
- Number of ants returning back
- Number of ants switching feeder
Strengths and Limitations
Summary
- The ant sucrose feeder can be used to study recruitment behavior, foraging activity, and memory acquisition in ants.
- The apparatus is also used in investigations analyzing the effect of social and private information on antsā decision process.
- The diamond shape maze provides subjects with two different pathways leading to the same food source.
References
- Czaczkes, T. J., Czaczkes, B., Iglhaut, C., & Heinze, J. (2015). Composite collective decision-making.Ā Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282. doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.2723
- Czaczkes, T. J., Salmane, A. K., Klampfleuthner, F. A., & Heinze, J. (2016).Ā Private information alone can trigger trapping of ant colonies in local feeding optima.Ā The Journal of Experimental Biology, 219(5), 744-51. doi:10.1242/jeb.131847
- Goss, S., Aron, S., Deneubourg, J.-L., & Pasteels, J. (1989). Self-organized Shortcuts in the Argentine Ant.Ā Naturwissenschaften, 76(12), 579- 581. doi:10.1007/BF00462870