Landscape heterogeneity can influence the fine-scale spacing of ant colonies, both directly and indirectly, complicating predictions regarding density-dependent spacing.
At the colony level a high degree of regularity in the spacing of ant nests is ubiquitous and is conventionally understood in terms of competition for space [85], [86], [87].
To evaluate the relationship between the local spacing patterns of ant colonies and the broad-scale heterogeneity typical of real landscapes, we examined the spacing of colonies of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex rugosus) on 12 1-ha plots in semi-arid grasslands in New Mexico, U.S.A.
STANLEY SCHUMAN was on his knees, gardening, when he accidentally invaded the space of a fire-ant colony.
It soon becomes clear that the opposing sides are at loggerheads largely because those heads are full of space ants that crashed to Earth in a meteorite.
Today Ms. Archabald will be at her home in a Syracuse suburb, meeting with the students of "Ants in Space" -- two boys, two girls, all heartbroken.
Down on ground level, adding extra space and dropping the "density" of ants caused them to adjust their paths, covering more ground and spreading out much more.
Inspect the outside of your home for cracks, holes, and other small spaces that allow the passage of ants - pay special attention to the areas of exterior walls that are closest to the ground or foundation.
"The idea is to ask the ants to search a small space - and then provide more space and see what will happen when the same number of ants have to use a larger space," Prof Gordon explained.
It is a space that holds the world's largest collection of ants, some 14,000 species.
