Post B6xAdd7NRiiZ17qxRQ by david_chisnall@infosec.exchange
 (DIR) More posts by david_chisnall@infosec.exchange
 (DIR) Post #B6xAdd7NRiiZ17qxRQ by david_chisnall@infosec.exchange
       2026-06-03T10:29:39Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @futurebird A couple of days ago, we walked past a tree that had a line of ants going up and down it.  They didn't seem to be carrying anything in either direction.  What are they doing?  Was this just a hundred ants going 'Geoffrey, did you leave a pheromone trail that doesn't lead anywhere again?'?  Was there a party at the top of the tree with a strict one-in, one-out policy?
       
 (DIR) Post #B6xAdeJoywGYk0gPTc by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2026-06-03T10:32:44Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @david_chisnall When ants collect water or other liquid foods they carry it in their social stomach not their mandibles. I was watching a colony of Laius emarginatus yesterday afternoon and was similarly puzzled until I noticed that all of the ants returning to the nest had full gasters. They were walking about 12m to gather water from a leaky water fountain in the park. Such trails could also be about the ants planning to move to a new nest.
       
 (DIR) Post #B6xBaeqwdgHVU2JVxo by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2026-06-03T10:43:19Z
       
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       @Hteph @david_chisnall Exactly. It's amazing how much they can carry back there... you can also sometimes tell because of the "waddle" in their walk.
       
 (DIR) Post #B6xC6r4QkZ3adryT68 by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2026-06-03T10:49:12Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @makary @david_chisnall Sometimes it's really obvious!I show that in this video I made. You can see their gasters expanding as they drink. When they return to the colony they share the sugar water with the younger ants and queen.  #antvideo #ants #coneants #Dorymyrmexhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjY88h13v44