When an ant dies, its nest-mates assemble around it quickly dispose it off to eliminate the risk infection spreading to the colony, This behaviour of social insects like ants is called necrophoresis
It is held that dead ants release fatty oleic acid as smelly chemical during initial decomposition that signals their death to the colony's living ants.
Smelly ant is carried off to the dead ant pile away from living and working areas. Thus, ants carry off their dead in order to protect themselves and their queen from infection.
This behavior has to do with the way ants communicate with each other via chemicals. When an ant dies, its body releases a chemical called oleic acid.
Some studies suggest that ants as social insects get sad and respect their fallen comrade. Even outside the nest, they assemble around a dying ant as if they are mourning. Otherwise they are always on the go to collect food.
Necrophoresis is a behavior found in social insects in which they carry the dead bodies of members of their colony from the nest or hive area to the dumping area.
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