Ant fight

Found these 2 little fellas fighting in the middle of pathway, you could notice that both have lost one front leg and the fight went on... The light was bit harsh, as this was shot around 1pm.

Between, is this Golden Backed Ant [Camponotus sericeus] ???

comments (13)

Claire Hamilton

Lion

Wow, great shot! Posted 2 years ago
1. Ganesh Seshachar
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you :) Posted 2 years ago
2. 1. sureshachar
    
    Snow Leopard
    
    Nice shot & good angle.... Posted 2 years ago

Barry

Lion

Well, it is an amazing photo, but I have to say that I am not so sure that they are fighting. Did you see them remove each others leg? My reasons are two: 1) they seem to be ants of the same species so it would be surprising to me that they would fight, and 2) seeing how small their jaws are, they are clearly not "soldiers", who tend to have big, scary looking jaws, and "worker" ants would never fight. What do you think? Posted 2 years ago
1. Ganesh Seshachar
  
  Lion
  
  Well, I found them in this position and they stayed like that for very long time and later they started pushing each other with their jaws. I have shot a series of images and this one was picked out of those bunch. Initially left one was dominating and later the right one took over... the image I uploaded is when the left one was about to take over.
  
  In fact, I shifted my focus to capture a MayFly
  and later when I returned their place I noticed that, the left fella had only 3 legs.
  
  May be they were helping each other?? not sure
  
  Few more images from the series can be found @ https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tha86y0cqdfulak/AADwDSEdCRJSLbgo8aiyaAw4a?dl=0
  Posted 2 years ago, modified 2 years ago
2. Stuart Nathaniel
  
  Lion
  
  Don't forget that ants from the same species but different colonies can and will fight each other. The caste of ants doesn't matter when it comes to fighting, in fact there's not a huge amount of ant species that have a specific 'soldier' caste. 'Pheidole Pallidula' have a specific soldier caste for example but when trouble starts, it's the 'standard' workers that go in first, followed by the soldiers.
  
  Posted 2 years ago
3. 1. Barry
    
    Lion
    
    Well, thanks for the explanation. I certainly believe what you said about ants of the same species fighting, as I wrote that I felt that it probably was a weak argument. However, I am surprised by what you write about sending in the workers first and then the soldiers. Is that really true? What do the workers fight with, given their jaws are designed for something else entirely? Is there a link where I can read more about this? In any case, I find your explanation below where you seem to "agree" with me the most likely. Posted 2 years ago
  2. 1. Stuart Nathaniel
      
      Lion
      
      Hi Barry, I hope my post didn't come across as patronising. I'm basing my statements on experience with having a well established pheidole colony (7 years). Whenever live food is introduced, it's the standard workers that go in first as they are effectively the 'general purpose' ants. Usually the soldiers come after a few minutes have elapsed but in all honesty, the standard workers seem like they are more aggressive, despite been smaller and less well equipped than their soldier sisters. Posted 2 years ago
    2. 1. Barry
        
        Lion
        
        Hi Stuart, oh heavens no, I didn't think that it was patronising at all. In fact, one of the great things about JungleDragon is that people with more experience can share their knowledge with those of us with less - and it certainly sounds like you know your ants. I totally accept what you say about food, but I had always thought (although not based on very much experience), that when a colony feels threatened - then the soldiers lead the response (for obvious reasons). When I have inadvertently disturbed ant nests, I notice that I seem to suddenly see more ants with enormous jaws - but I don't remember what kind they were or even where I have seen this. At any rate, comments and discussion are always welcome - especially when done so diplomatically and respectfully as you (and in fact practically everyone does here at JungleDragon). Posted 2 years ago
      2. Stuart Nathaniel
        
        Lion
        
        Hi Barry, it certainly is a fantastic community here so I'm very glad my post was useful to you :)
        
        I've always thought it strange that with the species I've seen in action, the soldiers aren't the first out to fight, unless the colony is hedging it's bets and depending on the size of the colony, soldiers will be kept back in reserve to protect the queen and brood, unless its a very large well established colony that can afford to let the soldiers out. They are fascinating creatures. Although every time I think I start to understand their behaviour, they throw me a curveball and I have to rethink my ideas! Posted 2 years ago
        
        Ganesh Seshachar
        
        Lion
        
        Thank you so much Stuart Nathaniel and Barry . This is such a healthy conversation and to a person like me, this was so knowledgable too. I haven't watched these creatures from the close so far, but not anymore :) Posted 2 years ago

Barry

Lion

Well, since we cannot ask them, I guess that we will never know. I will look around and see if I can find any information on fighting ants, if I do I will let you know. Posted 2 years ago

Stuart Nathaniel

Lion

'Fellas' - should be 'ladies' :)

Also, I'm inclined to agree that they are not fighting. They are the same species and I would imagine from the same colony. I believe they are engaging in 'trophallaxis' - the sharing of food from their social stomachs. I frequently see members of my colonies doing it, especially when in their outworld.

I believe you are correct with your species ID of 'Camponotus sericeus' given the location in which the picture was taken.

Great shot - definitely one for my favourites :) Posted 2 years ago, modified 2 years ago

The Golden backed ant

Camponotus sericeus is a species of carpenter ant.

Info 3 0

Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants

Species identified by Stuart Nathaniel

By Ganesh Seshachar

Uploaded Sep 17, 2017. Captured Sep 9, 2017 12:56 in 5, 15th Cross Road, MTS Layout, Gnanabharathi, Stage II, Kengeri Satellite Town, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560060, India.

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NIKON D7100
f/16.0
1/640s
ISO320
105mm

Captured in the summer. More summer photos.