Tandem Running

Tandem running is considered by many authors as the simplest recruitment behavior (Lenoir and Jaisson 1982, Agbogba 1984, Passera and Aron 2006). Jaffe (1984) distinguishes two main types of tandem running. The first one occurs when the scout attracts a nesmate using antennal contact and leads it in tandem to the food resource. The second type is the tandem running with odor signals, also called tandem calling, in which a scout uses chemical cues for either orienting itself back to the food source or to help attract nesmates. In both case, the two ants keep a physical contact with each other (Beckers et al. 1989).

Wilson (1959) has an account of this behavior in Cardiocondyla venustula and [[Media:Schultheiss P, Raderschall CA, Narendra A. 2015. Follower ants in a tandem pair are not always naïve.pdf|Schultheiss, Raderschall & Narendra (2015)]] discuss its significance in the Australian Camponotus consobrinus.

Videos of workers exhibiting tandem running
Camponotus consobrinus

Cardiocondyla

Temnothorax

Temnothorax, during colony emigration

Temnothorax

Species Known to use Tandem Running
The following list is based on Franklin (2014) with additions from various sources.