THE TOOL USE BY FORAGERS OF APHAENOGASTER FAMELICA

Abstract

Tool use of a Japanese ant (Aphaenogaster famelica) was observed. This behavior is innate and consists of two components, putting some tools on the more or less liquid food and carrying tools adhered with food to the nests. As the worker can carry more food by tools than by direct transport at one time, the tool-using behavior gives the species an important survival value. In the present paper the construction, mechanism and function of the tool use were analyzed through both field observation and laboratory experiment.