Chemical communication in column foraging harvesting ants (Nearctic Messor)

Messor pergandei is a common granivorous ant found in the Sonoran desert, and displays sophisticated group foraging behavior. Each day, colonies form ephemeral foraging colomns consisting of tens of thousands of ants, and these columns take different directions on subsequent foraging bouts. Our goal is to understand the individual behavioral and chemical mechanisms that underlie the emergence of these dynamic, dramatic foraging trails. We present new data on the chemical ecology of North American Messor species, and on the multi-modal orientation and navigation strategy found in M. pergandei. Seed harvesting genera, such as Pogonomyrmex and Messor, demonstrate several levels of behavioral convergence, and thus provide a rich system for teasing apart complex group behavior.