A recent study from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) reveals that, despite their outsized ecological impact ...

Some people change careers, and it seems that the Harpegnathos saltator ant can do the same; worker ants can switch to queen-like figures that are known as gamergates. Worker ants are not able to ...

Animal groups show how simple actions create shared intelligence, shaping technology, health research, and crowd safety.

In many animals, including ants, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) ensures normal brain function by controlling the movement of various substances in and out of the brain. Now, researchers reporting in ...

Why would an ant walk in an endless circle until it dies of starvation and exhaustion? Known as an ant death spiral, or circular milling, this deadly phenomenon can cause hundreds of ants to follow ...

Ant foraging behaviour is a paradigmatic example of sophisticated social coordination in the animal kingdom. Central to their success is the use of chemical signals, particularly trail pheromones, ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The emergent complexity of ant societies is one of the most ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. This microscopic, parasitic fungus evolved to hijack ants’ ...

National Harbor, Md. — Looking at face patterns in photos of more than 11,000 kinds of ants struck entomologist Clint Penick as a fine pandemic-lockdown project for his students. From that socially ...