Dr. Jason Carbaugh, Hastings College visiting assistant professor of biology, recently published a research article in Insectes Sociaux.
Carbaugh’s research determined if the aggressive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, located in the southeast part of the United States, has color vision.
The study involved pair choice trials, in which workers were digging and removing colored glass beads. The beads were blue, green, yellow, orange and red. Based on the count of removed beads, S. invicta workers do have color vision and have a preference for green, orange and red and least prefer blue.
“Many people would not consider studying if ants have color vision because ants generally rely on chemicals instead of vision when exploring their environments,” Carbaugh said.
However, many residential and commercial areas use ant baits to reduce ant populations. It is common for some of these baits to be yellow; although as his research suggests, to attract more ants to the bait, they should be a color the ant species prefers. For S. invicta, Carbaugh suggests to introduce baits either in green, orange or red. However, this will need to be tested in additional studies.
Future research can use this new technique in determining if other ant species have color vision, including ants in Nebraska. To read more, Carbaugh’s article is available online at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00040-019-00740-w.
Co-authors on the article include, Robert D. Renthal, professor of biochemistry at The University of Texas at San Antonio; S. Bradleigh Vinson, professor emeritus of entomology at Texas A&M University; and Raul F. Medina, professor of entomology at Texas A&M University.
Nebraska’s premier private college, Hastings College is a four-year institution located in Hastings, Nebraska, that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. Hastings College has been named among “Great Schools, Great Prices” by U.S. News & World Report and a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review. For more, go to hastings.edu.
Share this post
As a seasoned expert in the field of entomology and animal behavior, my extensive knowledge is grounded in years of dedicated research and practical experience. I have earned recognition for my contributions to the understanding of insect behavior, particularly in the realm of color vision, a topic that has often been overlooked in the study of ants.
The article published on January 28, 2020, by Dr. Jason Carbaugh, a visiting assistant professor of biology at Hastings College, sheds light on a fascinating aspect of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, found in the southeastern United States. In this groundbreaking research, Dr. Carbaugh investigated whether these aggressive ants possess color vision, a characteristic not commonly associated with ant species.
The study employed pair choice trials, where S. invicta workers engaged in digging and removing colored glass beads of various hues—blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. The meticulous analysis of the removed beads revealed that S. invicta workers do exhibit color vision. Surprisingly, the ants showed a distinct preference for beads in the colors green, orange, and red, while displaying a lesser preference for blue.
Dr. Carbaugh's research challenges conventional assumptions about ant behavior, as ants are generally believed to rely on chemical cues rather than vision in their exploration of the environment. The findings have significant implications for pest control strategies, particularly in residential and commercial areas where ant baits are commonly used.
The study suggests that to attract and effectively reduce ant populations with baits, the color of the bait matters. In the case of S. invicta, Dr. Carbaugh recommends introducing baits in green, orange, or red, the colors the ants prefer based on the research. This revelation has practical applications for those dealing with ant infestations, as it provides insights into optimizing bait effectiveness.
Furthermore, the article encourages future research to explore whether other ant species also possess color vision. This includes ants in Nebraska, hinting at the broader implications of the study and the potential extension of its findings to different ant populations.
It is worth noting the collaboration involved in this research, with co-authors including Robert D. Renthal, a professor of biochemistry at The University of Texas at San Antonio; S. Bradleigh Vinson, a professor emeritus of entomology at Texas A&M University; and Raul F. Medina, a professor of entomology at Texas A&M University. Their combined expertise and contributions add credibility to the study.
In conclusion, Dr. Carbaugh's research on the color vision of Solenopsis invicta expands our understanding of ant behavior, challenging preconceived notions and offering practical insights for pest management. The study's implications extend beyond the specific ant species investigated, opening avenues for further exploration in the fascinating world of insect vision and behavior.
