Formica obscuripes nestmate workers engaging in trophallaxis, or the social sharing of liquid food.

Wisconsin, USA
Formica obscuripes nestmate workers engaging in trophallaxis, or the social sharing of liquid food.  This behavior does more than merely transfer food.  Ants also use it to pass chemical signals among each other, and research has shown that trophallaxis helps the colony maintain a cohesive identifying odor.

Wisconsin, USA
Formica obscuripes nestmate workers engaging in trophallaxis, or the social sharing of liquid food.

Wisconsin, USA
Formica obscuripes nestmate workers engaging in trophallaxis, or the social sharing of liquid food.

Wisconsin, USA
Formica obscuripes nestmate workers engaging in trophallaxis, or the social sharing of liquid food.

Wisconsin, USA
Formica obscuripes nestmate workers engaging in trophallaxis, or the social sharing of liquid food.

Wisconsin, USA
Formica obscuripes nestmate workers engaging in trophallaxis, or the social sharing of liquid food.

Wisconsin, USA
Formica obscuripes nestmate workers engaging in trophallaxis, or the social sharing of liquid food.

Wisconsin, USA
Formica obscuripes nestmate workers engaging in trophallaxis, or the social sharing of liquid food.  This behavior does more than merely transfer food.  Ants also use it to pass chemical signals among each other, and research has shown that trophallaxis helps the colony maintain a cohesive identifying odor.

Wisconsin, USA
Formica obscuripes nestmate workers engaging in trophallaxis, or the social sharing of liquid food.

Wisconsin, USA
Formica obscuripes nestmate workers engaging in trophallaxis, or the social sharing of liquid food.

Wisconsin, USA
Formica obscuripes nestmate workers engaging in trophallaxis, or the social sharing of liquid food.

Wisconsin, USA
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013