His book remains an important early record in ant observation and the science of myrmecology, even though he only recognised a handful of species, which he categoried as "hill ants", "jet ants", "red ants", "common yellow ants", and "small black ants".

The Lasius fuliginosus in the experiment started by walking between the two trails, and then moved across to the stronger trail in such a way as to balance the odour strengths sensed by their two antennae (Figure 6.5).