Ants Use Pedometers to Find Home

Ant writes "New Scientist (a short video clip included) reports that desert ants have an internal pedometer that keeps track of how many steps they take, according to a new study. The insects seem to rely on this system to find their way back to the nest after foraging. Other insects may also possess this pedometer-like system. Some types of ants appear to use visual cues or leave scent trails to find their way home. But desert ants have a remarkable ability to retrace their steps from their nesting site even though they travel on flat terrain that is devoid of landmarks, and any odors quickly fade in the hot temperatures."

Comments

No!

[Ardeocalidus]

An internal PEDOmeter?! Won't somebody think of the ants?!

And has the research has ruled out the obvious?

[lcreech]

The same results and more probable explaination are a pherenome trail which disipate over time as seen many times over in the insect world.