Foraging Regulation

The Foraging System

Gordon's most detailed studies focus on how harvester ants regulate foraging—the colony's most critical activity for survival.

The rate of successful forager returns determines the rate of new departures. No computation needed—physics and chemistry do the optimization.

The Feedback Loop

1. Patrollers leave the nest at dawn
2. They return at a consistent rate if conditions are safe
3. Foragers near the entrance encounter returning patrollers
4. High patroller return rate → conditions good → foragers activate
5. Low patroller return rate → danger → foragers wait

No patroller tells foragers "go" or "stay." The interaction rate IS the signal.

Self-Regulating System

This creates a self-regulating system:

• If patrollers encounter predators, fewer return → foragers stay in
• If conditions are good, patrollers return quickly → foragers go out
• If food is abundant, foragers return with food quickly → more foragers activated
• If food is scarce, slow returns → fewer foragers leave

Application: Our Sense-Act Loop

Our agents implement the same feedback pattern:

• Sense pheromone levels (equivalent to encounter rates)
• High pheromone → promising area → exploit
• Low pheromone → unexplored → explore
• Success deposits more pheromone → attracts more agents

"The colony is using an analog computer made of ants."