Page 128 - The Miracle in the Ant

wide or heavy to carry or drag. Its nest mates far away detect the scent
and start moving towards its source. When ants have gathered around
the victim in sufficient numbers to carry it, they start carrying it towards
the nest.
When the fire ants separate from home in search of food, they fol-
low the scent track for a short while and then they leave each other and
search on their own. Their having found the food source becomes ap-
parent from the way they behave. When the fire ant discovers food, it
returns to its nest at a slower speed with its body quite close to the
ground. It sticks out its needle at certain intervals and the end of the nee-

An ant finding a food source leaves a chemical trace on the ground with the nee-
dle at its rear. This trace helps its nest mates reach the food source.

Kar›nca Mucizesi
128 THE MIRACLE IN THE ANT