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).

Part of Wilson's (1959) account of this behavior in Cardiocondyla venustula is presented here or you can read the full Psyche article online.

Video of two workers exhibiting this behavior: Temnothorax, Cardiocondyla

Species known to use Tandem Running
This list is a work in progress. Please add any known documented cases to this list.

Cardiocondyla emeryi Wilson 1959

Cardiocondyla venustula Wilson 1959

Camponotus sericeus Hölldobler, Moglich and Maschwitz 1974

Hypoponera eduardi Beckers et al. 1989

Hypoponera sp. Agbogba 1984

Odontomachus haematodus Hölldobler and Engel 1978

Neoponera apicalis Fresneau, D. 1985.

Pachycondyla caffraria (=Mesoponera caffraria) Agbogba 1992

Pachycondyla crassa (=Bothroponera crassa) Hölldobler and Engel 1978

Pachycondyla harpax Hölldobler and Engel 1978

Pachycondyla tesseronoda (=Bothroponera tesseronoda) Jessen and Maschwitz 1985, 1986

Neoponera villosa Fresneau, 1985

Temnothorax rugatulus Moglich 1978