Ants Use Sound To Communicate 36
sciencehabit writes "A new study shows that ant pupae—a stage between larvae and adult—can communicate via sound, and that this communication can be crucial to their survival. The young insects have a specialized spike along their abdomen that they stroke with one of their hind legs, similar to dragging the teeth of a comb along the edge of a table. This noise serves primarily as an emergency beacon, allowing the ants to shout for help when being threatened by a predator."
the first (Score:4, Insightful)
we have heard the first ant cry
I'll Just Leave This Here (Score:1, Offtopic)
http://www.terrybisson.com/page6/page6.html [terrybisson.com]
New ant traps based on emitting emergency sounds? (Score:5, Interesting)
Would be nice if this could be used to trick ants into thinking they need to rush to help an ant in distress, only to die in the trap.
Re: (Score:1)
Would be nice if this could be used to trick ants into thinking they need to rush to help an ant in distress, only to die in the trap.
Until they learn, and so it goes, round and round... :)
Re: (Score:1)
You're thinking of bees.
From wikipedia:
"Most ant species have a system in which only the queen and breeding females have the ability to mate. Contrary to popular belief, some ant nests have multiple queens while others may exist without queens. Workers with the ability to reproduce are called "gamergates" and colonies that lack queens are then called gamergate colonies; colonies with queens are said to be queen-right."
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Damn sugar ants around here. Even if you're clean, the fuckers mob your sink for the water!
You'll get a drop of water with a ring of ants. Who get into everything. They even make it a few inches into the freezer before they die, leaving a nice border of ant corpses around the freezer seal. Which doesn't seem to not be sealed, so I have no idea how they get through.
Re: (Score:2)
Sounds like you need a new freezer.
Re: (Score:2)
I don't love insects, but your suggestion felt fundamentally evil.
On the one hand, the summary says "ant kids cry out for help", and then you explicitly say "let's take advantage of that to kill ants".
At least kitchen bug traps work by luring them with tasty smells, so I can reason "well, we are taking advantage of gluttony".
Ant Masturbation (Score:5, Funny)
...The young insects have a specialized spike along their abdomen that they stroke with one of their hind legs...
Ant minions! (Score:2)
All I need is a comb.
fetch me a beer from the fridge *strokes comb*
Hive mind....;-) (Score:2)
That's 'sudo fetch me a beer...'.
My aunts (Score:2)
Not only did my aunts communicate with sound, there was hardly ever a letup.
Oh, ANTS...
It's meant as humour, folks.... (Score:2)
Well, that's what they get for stroking their specialized spike with their hind legs. /.'er knows you use the 'hand appendage' of the arm for stroking....oh well, what do girls know anyhow. ;-)
Every
Re: (Score:2)
Some people are into legs and feet. Rule 34 and all.
It's no wonder they've lasted as long as they have (Score:2)
They also have some 400 distinct odorant receptors, I knew they smelled
their way around but it's much more than just following a trail.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120910143532.htm [sciencedaily.com]
Adam Ant (Score:2, Funny)
Adam Ant [wikipedia.org] definitely made a lot of noise. Not sure if you would class it as communication though.
Well duh (Score:2)
Oh Great (Score:2)
Yet another way that workers in cubicles are just like ants.
Forget propelly drones! The ant's the thing! (Score:1)
By simple acoustic triangulation I can project the sounds of multiple ants in distress with the unique genetic signature of each colony. I can create a massive attack response towards a position that moves over time.
Utilizing software I have secretly embedded in the systems of all major cellphone carriers and utility smart meter control systems, I can detune and modulate the RF emissions of cell towers and power lines to generate beat effects in the audible range. In areas visible to five or more transmit
Obligatory.... (Score:2)
I for one welcome our new, talking insect overlords.
Only one Genus? (Score:1)
From the Article: ...
began to notice that adults in some ant genuses, such as Myrmica, which contains more than 200 diverse species found across Europe and Asia, made noise.
thought it odd that mature pupae would have the capability to produce sound but remain silent. So he and his colleagues listened in to a group of Myrmica scabrinodis ants. These 4- to 5-millimeter-long, reddish-brown ants are commonly found in northern Europe
Little ant said: (Score:1)
Ants are pretty fucking awesome (Score:2)
I highly recommend picking a couple of books on the subject as it will be well worth your time. They are probably the most interesting creatures on this planet.