To　set　up　and　maintain　paths　in　mobile　ad　hoc　networks,　an　adaptive　routing　protocol　based　on　ant　colony　algorithm　for　ad　hoc　networks　is　proposed.　The　routing　protocol　uses　ant　agents　to　find　a　path　to　a　destination　node　at　the　start　of　each　data　session,　and　during　the　course　of　the　session,　uses　ant　agents　to　test　existing　paths　and　repeatedly　explore　new　ones.　It　dynamically　sets　up　and　maintains　multiple　paths　between　the　source　and　the　destination　of　a　data　session,　and　makes　the　protocol　adapt　for　the　dynamic　topology　networks.　Simulation　results　show　that　the　adaptive　routing　protocol　can　outperform　AODV　and　W_AntNet　in　terms　of　average　packet　end-to-end　delay　and　packet　delivery　ratio.