Abstract
Behavioural lateralization in invertebrates is an important field of study because it may provide insights into the early origins of lateralization seen in a diversity of organisms. Here, we present evidence for a leftward turning bias in Temnothorax albipennis ants exploring nest cavities and in branching mazes, where the bias is initially obscured by thigmotaxis (wall-following) behaviour. Forward travel with a consistent turning bias in either direction is an effective nest exploration method, and a simple decision-making heuristic to employ when faced with multiple directional choices. Replication of the same bias at the colony level would also reduce individual predation risk through aggregation effects, and may lead to a faster attainment of a quorum threshold for nest migration. We suggest the turning bias may be the result of an evolutionary interplay between vision, exploration and migration factors, promoted by the ants' eusociality.
Highlights
Brain lateralization is present in all vertebrate classes and there is an increasing amount of evidence for sensory and motor asymmetries in the behaviour of invertebrates; this is typically associated with asymmetries in their nervous system [1,2]
An aligned entry direction has a significant interaction with the first choice that an ant makes. This indicates that thigmotaxis is an influential factor in initial nest exploration
A leftward turning bias becomes clear by the second choice: first, the sum of all second choices gives 50 left, 30 right ( p 1⁄4 0.033) not accounting for higher entry numbers from the right (n 1⁄4 37) than the left (n 1⁄4 29); second, where thigmotaxis can be excluded in the second choice because the ants were observed to detach from the wall at the first choice, the total is 21 left, 6 right ( p 1⁄4 0.006)
Summary
Brain lateralization is present in all vertebrate classes and there is an increasing amount of evidence for sensory and motor asymmetries in the behaviour of invertebrates; this is typically associated with asymmetries in their nervous system [1,2]. There is evidence to suggest that population-level behavioural lateralization is more likely to evolve in social than solitary species [6]. Population-level asymmetry has been observed in the red wood ant Formica aquilonia, where ants receiving food via trophallaxis use the right antenna to stimulate their donor ant significantly more than the left antenna [8]. Recent research has found that workers of the house-hunting ant Temnothorax albipennis seem to rely more on their right eye to recognize landmarks for navigation [9]. This is similar to the finding that bees (Apis mellifera) predominantly use their right eye for learning and/or detecting objects [10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
