Visual discrimination of cues differing as for their number of elements, their shape or their orientation, by the ant Myrmica sabuleti

Abstract

Using operant conditioning as a method, we study if Myrmica sabuleti workers can discriminate figures made of different numbers of the same element, different filled shapes or hollow forms and elements differently oriented. The ants effectively discriminate figures containing different numbers of the same element but without counting the elements: their distinguishing is based on the global aspect (dimensions, area) of the figures. They distinguish filled shapes as well as hollow forms when these look different if seen with convexity. For instance, they differentiate well between concave filled shapes or concave hollow forms. They see distinctly an element and the same one rotated if this element, seen with convexity, looks different after its rotation. They perceive until a 30° rotation of a vertical segment and until a 15° rotation of a horizontal segment. In conclusion, M. sabuleti workers are sensitive to the number of elements, dimension, shape, form and orientation of visual cues with the restriction that they probably see them with convexity. ©2008 Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences.