Quantitative Analysis of Harvester Ant Nest Geometry
Quantitative Analysis of Harvester Ant Nest Geometry
The nest structure excavated by Florida harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex badius) is unique in its complex arrangement of distinct sub-vertical helical shafts and horizontal chambers. In this work, the geometric features and distribution of these artefacts are analyzed to inspire new manmade tunnel designs. 3D reconstruction models of ant nest castings were used to analyze the quantitative measures of volumes, orientations, shapes, and locations of chambers as well as pitch, cross-sectional orientations, and aspect ratios of the shafts. Preliminary results indicate an excavation strategy combining shafts that maintain a limited range of pitch angles and curvature, with chambers of similar volume-to-surface-area ratios throughout the nest. These findings suggest that the arrangement of chambers is optimized for multiple factors, including population distribution, ventilation and food storage, rather than solely mechanical stability. Our results can inspire new approaches to tunnel engineering and help guide a multifaceted subsurface infrastructure design that considers stability, energy efficiency and sustainability.
Griffin Bodow; Meron Belachew; Karie Yamamoto; Chloe Arson; David Frost
2025 International Conference on Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (ICBBG2025)
Special symposium: Bio-inspired tunneling
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICBBG2025-80
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