Food recognition as reflected in seed handling by Messor arenarius ants

Abstract

This research assessed whether food recognition in Messor arenarius ants is impacted by their food handling. Food choice experiments between whole‐wheat seeds and halves of wheat seeds cut longitudinally were conducted in the same nest on two consecutive days. In these experiments, it was found that the proportion of touches of these ants using their antennae on both food items within a collection point during first day of the experiment was significantly higher than the same proportion on the second day of the experiment in the same nest. The proportion of touches by the ants' forelegs was also higher on the first day of the experiment than on the second day in the same nest, but not significantly. These findings seem to account for a possible effect of learning, that is, food recognition.