Animals

Many different songbird species have been observed cream up single ants or small groups and rubbing them on their joins. Less commonly, other songbirds ant by spreading their locomote and lying on an anthill, and squirming or otherwise stimulating the ants to hatch up among their feathers.

The purpose of anting is not well understood, but the near reasonable assumption seems to be that it is a way of getting the defensive secretions of ants primarily for their insecticidal, miticidal, fungicidal, or bactericidal properties and, perhaps secondarily, as a supplement to the birds own preen oil. The former accounting is reinforced by a growing body of tell on the biocidal properties of ant secretions and by an observation of a jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus) actively anting with a millipede, whose potent defensive secretions (evolved to place upright off the millipedes enemies) could be smelled from 15 feet away. Likewise, the observed correlation of anting legal action with high humidity might be explained by the record fungicidal properties of ant secretions.



Because the seasonal timing of anting and molting (spring and summer) ofttimes correspond, some have suggested that anting may soothe the skin during feather replacement. It seems more likely that the seasonal relationship simply reflects the greater activity of ants during those periods.

Recording anting and related behavior is an activity where birders stinkpot easily gather information of interest to biologists. Those who live in or visit the Vancouver area, for example, should be alert to the possibility that the caespitose Myna might show behavior similar to its belt up jungle relative. If you see anting, be sure to make comminuted notes of the circumstances in which it is taking place.If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay



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