ANT SEARCH BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS WITH A VIDEO FRAME GRABBER

Frame grabbers are video digitizers that allow a high-speed capture an d manipulation of video images. Tn this paper we discuss the use of fr ame grabbers to achieve real-time or videotape automatic tracking of a moving insect (an ant). We describe the basic equipment required to u se this technology and explain the steps involved in the tracking proc edure. The potential applications of this technique in the study of se arch behaviour in flightless social insect species such as ants and te rmites are discussed.