Abstract Technological advances continue to push the boundaries of scientific inquiry in animal behaviour. One such development is the emergence of automated tracking systems, which enable the collection of high‐resolution spatio‐temporal information for animals. Although tag‐based tracking systems provide valuable insights into animal movement and collective behaviour, the attachment of devices can have detrimental effects in some cases. Here, we investigated the effects of recently developed miniature tracking tags using the rock ant, Temnothorax rugatulus , as a model system. To do so, we compared the foraging activities of tagged ants and formerly tagged ants (who lost their tags) within three tagged colonies. Additionally, we compared the foraging activities of these tagged colonies with those of three untagged control colonies (no one was tagged). We found that tags did not significantly reduce feeder visits. However, our analysis revealed a significant difference in recruitment behaviour—tagged ants were less likely to participate in tandem runs than formerly tagged ants. Furthermore, the number of tandem runs was higher for the untagged control colonies than the tagged colonies, in which 69%–95% of colony members had tags during the foraging bouts. Practical implication : Our data suggest, for the first time, that tracking tags can negatively impact ant behaviour. This result indicates that experimental designs should incorporate controls, validation tests or lighter tagging approaches to minimize behavioural disruption and ensure reliable conclusions.
Taylor et al. (2026) studied this question.