What is ants death spiral?

An ant death spiral is a phenomenon that occurs when a group of ants lose their sense of direction and begin following each other in a continuous loop, leading to their eventual death. This behavior is often seen when ants are foraging for food and becomes disoriented, causing them to unintentionally follow a chemical trail left behind by other ants.

As more ants join the loop, they become trapped in an endless cycle of following each other, even as they become exhausted and eventually die. The spiral can continue until all the ants in the loop have perished.

Ant death spirals are a fascinating example of collective behavior in social insects, but they can also be a tragic consequence of the ants' highly specialized and complex communication system. In some cases, disruptions to their chemical trails or other environmental factors can trigger these spirals, leading to a large number of casualties within the colony.