Homing in the harvester ant Pogonomyrmex badius

Abstract

During homing, the harvester ant Pogonomyrmex badius orients both to the sun and to chemical cues. Visual patterns are generally the less important. Trails laid from the secretion of Dufour's gland comprise the main chemical homing signal. This orientation mechanism assists foraging workers to return precisely to their own nests even when the nest populations are dense.