This is a crazy video my brother just shared with me. Yes, those are ants, TONS of them. And, yes, they are just marching in circles. As the USDA research entomologist in the video below explains, the ants are just continually following the chemical trail of the ant in front, as they normally do. But, somehow, the leader of the bunch got on a circular path and all the ants are just walking in circles.
The ants are apparently blind and rely on the chemical trails of their colleagues to get around safely. Unfortunately, these ants are likely to march in circles to their death, according to the entomologist. Crazy stuff, eh?
http://youtu.be/prjhQcqiGQc
This must be your brother, the naturalist, genius.Thank you, to both of you, it has brightened our day, many of us, I am sure.