Ant's net : collective and individual intelligence

Worker ants, Lasius niger, building their nest in an experimental device. Small wooden pillars enable measurement of the height of the ants’ deposits of pellets. It appears that to determine from what height they begin to build laterally, the ants use their bodies as a gauge. These lateral deposits will eventually form capitals above the pillars that will progressively extend and form a makeshift roof. Antheaps exhibit an extremely complex and dynamic architecture. In fact, ants are constantly…

Nest of black gardens ants, Lasius niger, whose colonies consist of approximately five to fifteen thousand individuals. In order to understand the architecture of the nest, research scientists took antheaps and then modelled them in 3D using an X-ray scanner. Tunnels, chambers, forks… modelling makes it possible to fully appreciate the elements that comprise this complex and dynamic architecture. In fact, ants are constantly destroying the structures that they build and adapt their habitat to…

Worker ants, Lasius niger, moving in their nest built in experimental conditions and consisting of pellets of earth that they make, clearly identifiable in the image. Research scientists have discovered that ants deposit onto each of these pellets a pheromone that governs the entire dynamics of construction, the growth and the shape of the nests. If weather conditions (heat, wind) result in rapid evaporation of this chemical substance, the ants, which deposit the earth where the pheromone is…

System of regularly spaced pillars and walls built in experimental conditions by groups of 500 ants of the "Lasius niger" species. By putting ants into experimental devices and varying the quantity of earth and the number of individuals, research scientists are studying the formation of a single level of an antheap. This begins with the establishment of pillars and walls, the basic units of the nest. This study made it possible to determine that it is the ants’ deposition of pheromones onto the…

Worker ants, Lasius niger, in their nest built in experimental conditions. By putting ants into experimental devices, research scientists are studying the formation of an antheap. After building pillars, the ants make deposits at height, as here in the photo. These globular structures form capitals which, joined together, create a vaulted passage. This study made it possible to determine that it is the ants’ deposition of pheromones onto the earth pellets that governs the entire dynamics of…

Floors of an antheap built in experimental conditions by a group of 500 ants of the Lasius niger species. By putting ants into experimental devices, research scientists are studying the formation of an antheap. Here, the floors are supported by a very small number of pillars. The research scientists have discovered that ants deposit a pheromone onto the pellets of earth that they move, and it is this chemical substance that governs the entire dynamics of construction, the growth and the shape…

Regularly spaced pillars and walls of an antheap built in experimental conditions by a group of 500 ants of the Lasius niger species. By putting ants into experimental devices, research scientists are studying antheap formation. Consequently, they have discovered that ants deposit a pheromone onto the pellets of earth that they move, and it is this chemical substance that governs the entire dynamics of construction, the growth and the shape of the nests. If weather conditions result in rapid…

Regularly spaced pillars and walls of an antheap built in experimental conditions by a group of 500 ants of the Lasius niger species. By putting ants into experimental devices, research scientists are studying antheap formation. Consequently, they have discovered that ants deposit a pheromone onto the pellets of earth that they move, and it is this chemical substance that governs the entire dynamics of construction, the growth and the shape of the nests. If weather conditions result in rapid…

Worker ants, Lasius niger, building their nest in an experimental device. Small wooden pillars enable measurement of the height of the ants’ deposits of pellets. It appears that to determine from what height they begin to build laterally, the ants use their bodies as a gauge. These lateral deposits will eventually form capitals above the pillars that will progressively extend and form a makeshift roof. Antheaps exhibit an extremely complex and dynamic architecture. In fact, ants are constantly…

Regularly spaced pillars of an antheap built in experimental conditions by a group of 500 ants of the Lasius niger species. By putting ants into experimental devices, research scientists are studying the formation of the nests. Consequently, they have discovered that ants deposit a pheromone onto the pellets of earth that they move, and it is this chemical substance that governs the entire dynamics of construction, the growth and the shape of the nests. If weather conditions result in rapid…

Regularly spaced pillars of an antheap built in experimental conditions by a group of 500 ants of the Lasius niger species. By putting ants into experimental devices, research scientists are studying the formation of the nests. Consequently, they have discovered that ants deposit a pheromone onto the pellets of earth that they move, and it is this chemical substance that governs the entire dynamics of construction, the growth and the shape of the nests. If weather conditions result in rapid…

X-ray tomography of the internal structure of a nest of Lasius niger ants. In order to understand the architecture of the nest, research scientists took antheaps and then reconstructed them in 3D using data from an X-ray scanner. Here the chambers, in the form of bubbles, are nested tightly to each other. Antheaps exhibit an extremely complex and dynamic architecture. In fact, ants are constantly destroying the structures that they build and adapt their habitat to their environment, in…

X-ray tomography of the internal structure of a nest of Lasius niger ants. In order to understand the architecture of the nest, research scientists took antheaps and then reconstructed them in 3D using data from an X-ray scanner. Here the chambers, in the form of bubbles, are nested tightly to each other. Antheaps exhibit an extremely complex and dynamic architecture. In fact, ants are constantly destroying the structures that they build and adapt their habitat to their environment, in…

X-ray tomography of the internal structure of a nest of Lasius niger ants. In order to understand the architecture of the nest, research scientists took antheaps and then reconstructed them in 3D using data from an X-ray scanner. Here the chambers, in the form of bubbles, are nested tightly to each other. Antheaps exhibit an extremely complex and dynamic architecture. In fact, ants are constantly destroying the structures that they build and adapt their habitat to their environment, in…

System of regularly spaced pillars and walls built in experimental conditions by groups of 500 ants of the "Lasius niger" species. By putting ants into experimental devices and varying the quantity of earth and the number of individuals, research scientists are studying the formation of a single level of an antheap. This begins with the establishment of pillars and walls, the basic units of the nest. This study made it possible to determine that it is the ants’ deposition of pheromones onto the…