What process do ants use to feed each other in the colony?

The process through which ants feed each other in the colony is known as trophallaxis. This behavior involves the transfer of food or other fluids between individual ants through mouth-to-mouth (mandibular) contact or through the anus. It serves both nutritional and social purposes within the colony.

Trophallaxis is crucial for the survival of a colony as it allows for the sharing of resources, enhances the distribution of nutrients, and helps maintain the social structure within the group. For instance, nurse ants often share food with larvae or forager ants bring back food to share with the queen and other colony members. This process fosters communal living and strengthens the bonds within the colony.

The other processes mentioned do not pertain to the feeding behavior of ants in the same way. Phagocytosis refers to cellular ingestion of solid particles, symbiosis describes a close ecological relationship between two different species, and excretion involves the elimination of waste products, which are unrelated to the feeding interactions that occur among ants.