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When an ant in a colony dies, the live ants will

throw the dead ant out of the anthill. If a live ant

from the colony, ant X, is sprayed with a chemical

characteristic of dead ants, the live ants will

repeatedly throw this ant out of the anthill until

they can no longer detect the chemical on ant X.

What is the best explanation for this behavior?

(1) The ants are responding to a chromosomal

mutation in ant X.

(2) The chemical is exhibiting a feedback mechanism.

(3) The live ants must continue this behavior

until they have eliminated ant X.

(4) The chemical acts as a stimulus for a particular

behavior.

Verified Answer :

kbearhaddox

the answer is 4, because if the ants smell the same dead smell on this particular ant in the colony, their initial reaction is to eliminate it. The chemical sprayed upon the ant acts as a stimulus for a particular behavior.

The best explanation for this behavior is that the chemical acts as a stimulus for a particular behavior. The phenomenon of removing dead ants from the anthill is known as necrophoresis.

What is necrophoresis ?

Necrophoresis is a sanitation behavior found in social insects – such as ants, bees, wasps, and termites – in which they carry away the dead bodies of members of their colony from the nest or hive area.

What is an anthill ?

Anthill is a nest in the form of a mound built by ants.

Two days after an ant dies they begin to emit an acid with a scent other ants recognize. This is a scent the ants smell to warn them of the dying insect nearby. However, the chemical sprayed is able to trick ants into believing a live ant has passed.

To know more about anthill here

https://brainly.com/question/5448776

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