Unusual behavior of ants was observed in Australia: the whole colony pretended to be dead

A study of unusual ant behavior has been published in the Australian Journal of Zoology.

Image by monsterpong09 from Pixabay Researchers from the University of South Australia have observed unusual behavior in walls for the first time: an entire colony pretending to be dead. Biologists believe this is a defensive strategy to avoid potential danger.

Unusual behavior was discovered by accident. Scientists were checking nests of pygmy possums and bats on Kangaroo Island and found a colony of dead Polyrhachis femorata ants. For some time, the researchers were sure that all the insects had died, until one of them betrayed them all by accidentally moving.