Conga line rhythm from ant march

The conga line rhythm, familiar at wedding discos and in stereotypical cartons of the early-mid 20th century, was originally discovered by acoustic entomologists studying ant colonies. The scientists observed how ants regularly followed straight lines between points of interest, and so went about testing possible ways that the ants kept formation. Tests ranged from chemical excretions, to the way the light caught their antennas. However, the acoustic test (where the scientists measured the minute sounds caused by the ants legs as they hit the ground) revealed that the ants marched in a slightly 'off beat' way. Three shuffle beats followed by a kick just prior to the fourth beat. This beat, when demonstrated to their peers in a scientific conference caught the imagination of the delegates and at the conference dinner after-party, the master of ceremonies (an entomologist by trade), tapped out the ant march pattern on the microphone. Henceforth the conference party formed the very first conga line.