From the National Geographic:
A single ant or bee isn’t smart, but their colonies are. The study of swarm intelligence is providing insights that can help humans manage complex systems, from truck routing to military robots.
Specifically referenced is the work of Thomas Seeley, on a small island off the coast of Maine, on how the honeybee colony picks a new home when swarming. (This starts on page two, part way down, if you want to skip the ant-related stuff).
See
Swarm Behavior | Swarm Theory by Peter Miller
National Geographic, July 2007
Written by beekeepers
Topics: Apis mellifera