The first ant lays a scent trail. The second ant follows it. The third ant makes the trail stronger. That is how a colony builds a living motorway — without ever seeing each other.
Stronger trail → more ants
NestSugar
Every ant who finds the sugar drops a small scent trail on the way home. The more ants who walk the same route, the stronger the smell becomes — and the more come after. That is how the colony works out the shortest path, without a leader.