menotaxis

Menotaxis is a type of taxis, which is an oriented locomotory reaction of a motile organism in response to a stimulus. Specifically, menotaxis involves maintaining a constant angle to a directional stimulus, such as light, rather than moving directly toward or away from it. This behavior is observed in foraging insects like ants and bees, helping them navigate back to their nests by maintaining a consistent orientation relative to the sun. For example, an ant returning to its nest will continue at the same angle to the sun, even if its path is temporarily obstructed. This type of response is distinct from simply moving towards or away from a stimulus.12