# 🐜 Foraging behavior and locomotion of the invasive Argentine ant from winter aggregations

**Daniel A. Friedman, Deborah M. Gordon** (2018) · *PLoS One*

[![DOI](https://img.shields.io/badge/DOI-10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0202117-blue)](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202117)

---
<!-- Schema.org structured data for search engines -->
<!--
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ScholarlyArticle","headline":"ArgentineAnt","abstract":"Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) are one of the world's most widespread invasive species, forming massive supercolonies spanning hundreds of kilometers. Here we examine the relationship between the ecological success of Argentine ants and the behavioral, genetic, and chemical mechanisms underlying their colony organization. Unlike most ant species, Argentine ants show reduced intraspecific aggression, allowing colony fusion and supercolony formation. We review the sensory ecology of nestmate ","keywords":["Argentine ant","Linepithema humile","invasive species","supercolony","nestmate recognition","collective behavior","chemical ecology","cuticular hydrocarbons"],"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Daniel Ari Friedman","url":"https://danielarifriedman.com/"}}
-->


## Abstract

> This study investigates the foraging behavior and locomotion of the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) during winter in northern California, focusing on how these behaviors are influenced by environmental conditions. The findings reveal that foraging activity peaks at specific temperatures and is affected by humidity, while the presence of a competing native ant species does not significantly deter foraging efforts.

## Keywords

`Argentine ant` · `Linepithema humile` · `invasive species` · `supercolony` · `nestmate recognition` · `collective behavior` · `chemical ecology` · `cuticular hydrocarbons`

## Key Contributions

- First comprehensive study of Argentine ant foraging behavior in winter conditions.
- Identification of a winter circadian rhythm in foraging activity.
- Demonstration of the impact of temperature and humidity on locomotion and foraging rates.
- Insights into the competitive dynamics between Argentine ants and native species.

## Methods

- Recorded foraging rates and walking speeds of three L. humile colonies over three 24-hour periods.
- Measured environmental conditions including temperature, humidity, and light levels.
- Analyzed the correlation between foraging activity and the presence of the native ant species Prenolepis imparis.
- Utilized mixed effect models to assess the relationships between environmental factors and ant behavior.

## 🎯 Consulting & Tutoring

**Available for AI Research Consulting and Tutoring.** [Contact Daniel Ari Friedman, PhD](https://danielarifriedman.com/) for collaboration on Active Inference, Bayesian modeling, and computational biology.

## Citation

```bibtex
@article{2018_ArgentineAnt,
  author = {Daniel A. Friedman, Deborah M. Gordon},
  title = {{Foraging behavior and locomotion of the invasive Argentine ant from winter aggregations}},
  journal = {PLoS One},
  year = {2018},
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0202117},
}
```

## File Inventory

- `AGENTS.md` (2,044 bytes)
- `2018_ArgentineAnt.pdf` (4,967,190 bytes)
- `README.md` (2,022 bytes)
- `SKILL.md` (1,974 bytes)