Coupled oscillators and activity waves in ant colonies

We investigated the phenomenon of activity cycles in ants, taking into acco unt the spatial structure of colonies. In our study species, Leptothorax ac ervorum, there are two spatially segregated groups in the nest. We develope d a model that considers the two groups as coupled oscillators which can pr oduce synchronized activity. By investigating the effects: of noise on the model system Me predicted how the return of foragers affects activity cycle s in ant colonies. We tested these predictions empirically by comparing the activity of colonies under two conditions: when foragers are and are not a llowed to return to the nest. The activity of the whole colony and of each group within the colony was studied using image analysis. This allowed us t o reveal the spatial pattern of activity wave propagation in ant colonies f or the first time.