strange behavior ?!

[levpi88]

Today when I was feeding my new C. vagus colony I noticed some strange behavior.

I keep my C. vagus colony in test tube and test tube in plastic container= (foraging tank).
When I removed small lid from foraging tank (which I use as "plate" where I give ant food) underneath were some ant workers and 3 larvae. Workers quickly moved larvae into test tube. The strange thing was that one of the workers grabed another worker with it's mandibles. The worker that was grabed by it's mandibles polled his legs and gaster very close to it's head so it formed ball. And then the worker who was holding him just carried him in the test tube. Onec in the tube first worker let go the second and they both resumed their normal duties.

I know for a fact that worker that was being carried is one of the younges ants in it's colony. But I still don't get what were they doing.

Any ideas guys and gals ?

[Zarbi]

It's not unusual for older workers to pick up their younger sisters and "piggy back" carry them. Perhaps the older one thought her young sister was being threatened by you and so carried her to safety.
The young worker brings her legs close into her body to make her easier to carry.

I have seen Formica ants do this very same thing when I've lifted a stone on a wild nest.

[Billy]

This is nothing to worry about. The younger worker was probably a nurse, there to look after the larvae, and not good in combat. Think of it like a mighty hero being attacked by a dragon. There is another hero nearby, along with a mother. The hero carries the mother and the baby to safety before helping the other hero fight the dragon.

Billy