Anting? What's this?

Active anting is defined as a bird holding an ant and rubbing it in parts of the body. Formic acid is one of thesubstances found in some groups of ants. It acts smoothing skin irritation and as an insecticide, bactericidal, and fungicide on bird feathers. Thus, plumage maintenance and prevention of ectoparasites are some of the functions attributed to anting behavior.The anting behavior of the White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus, Linnaeus 1766), a beautiful lekking bird, is linked with the cycle of biotic and functional interactions of this species, including frugivory, self-care and lek behavior following this presumable sequence of events: (1) the accumulation of seeds defecated or regurgitated by competing males in and around display courts may (2) attracts herbivore ants that (3) M. manacus males use anting as a way to (4) maintain their feathers and individual fitness during intra-specific competition on lek areas. The cartoon below was done by Iago Bueno, one of my former undergraduated students from Unesp. The Iago’s cartoon shows with humor the anting behavior of White-bearded manakin! Legends are in portuguese.

You may find more information in the “publications” topic of this webpage or on the following address: http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v10n4/pt/abstract?short-communication+bn02110042010