Researchers from the University of South Australia have discovered that Polyrhachis femorata ants on Kangaroo Island display a unique defensive behavior by feigning death, marking a first for ant behavior. While checking nest boxes for wildlife recovery following the 2020 bushfires, they found ants that appeared lifeless until one moved, surprising the researchers. This behavior, observed for an entire colony, is distinct from previous cases where individual ants or specific castes exhibited such mimicry.
According to Associate Professor S. ‘Topa’ Petit, the immobility was nearly perfect, prompting further investigation into its triggers and ecological significance. The discovery was made during the Kangaroo Island Nest Box Project, which has monitored 901 boxes across various properties as part of bushfire recovery efforts. Co-researcher Peter Hammond noted the project’s aim to learn about invertebrates alongside targeted vertebrates, highlighting the ecological role of ants like Polyrhachis femorata.
With little known about this particular ant species, the researchers are excited to explore its behaviors and contribute to understanding the ecological importance of ants in ecosystems. They anticipate finding more ants with similar death-feigning behaviors in Australia.
