ISSN:
1439-5444
Keywords:
Key wordsLasius spp.
;
Temporary parasitic ant
;
Naturally mixed colony
;
Nestmate recognition
;
Cuticular profiles
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Workers of the temporary parasitic ant Lasius sp. were perfectly compatible with their hosts Lasius fuliginosus. Aggression was never seen between allospecific nestmates in either field or laboratory. In the laboratory, trophallaxis and allogrooming between allospecific nestmates were statistically more frequent than that between conspecifics. These ants were highly aggressive toward individuals of either species from another mixed colony located 1 km away, indicating that they discriminated nestmates and nonnestmates regardless of the species to which they belonged. No aggressive actions, however, were observed between two neighboring mixed nests located 5 m apart. We have not considered, however, the relationship of the two neighboring nests: the two nests may have been two subunits of the same family or sister colonies, or may have been different colonies but discriminated from distant aliens. Gas chromatography analysis on the total cuticular extracts showed that Lasius sp. and L. fuliginosus possess distinct cuticular profiles, even though they were collected from the same mixed colony.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s101640070002
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