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Comparisons between two apparently distinct forms ofCamponotus nawai ITO (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Vergleich zweier offenbar verschiedener Formen von Camponotus nawai ITO (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

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Summary

Obligately monogynous and facultatively polygynous forms ofCamponotus nawai Ito was compared.

The seasonal changes of colony composition were similar in the two forms except for the season in which alates were found in nests. Collection data suggested that new colonies are founded only by single foundresses in the monogynous form, but mainly by colony budding in the polygynous form.

All or most queens in polygynous nests were fertile, thus polygyny is functional. The body size and ovarian volume of queens were larger in the monogynous forms. Queens of the polygynous form showed bimodal size distribution, though smaller queens were less frequent. In the polygynous form, the number of queens was positively correlated with the number of immatures, but negatively correlated with the number of immatures per queen.

It seems that the polygynous form occupies more northern regions than the monogynous one and their ranges contact parapatrically.

The monogynous and polygynous forms ofC. nawai may be different species because of the differing mating seasons.

Zusammenfassung

Eine obligatorisch monogyne und eine fakultativ polygyne Form vonCamponotus nawai Ito wurden vergleichen. Jahreszeitliche Veränderungen der Koloniezusammensetzung waren bei beiden Formen ähnlich, abgesehen von der Zeit, in der geflügelte Geschlechtstiere in den Nestern zu finden sind. Die Sammelergebnisse lassen annehmen, daß bei der monogynen Form neue Kolonien nur von einzelnen Königinnen gegründet werden, während sie bei der polygynen Form durch Kolonieteilung entstehen.

In polygynen Völkern waren alle oder fast alle Königinnen fertil, sa daß eine funktionelle Polygynie vorliegt. Königinnen der monogynen Form sind größer und haben größere Ovarien. Die Königinnen der polygynen Form zeigen eine bimodale Grossen-verteilung doch sind die kleineren Königinnen seltener. Bei der polygynen Form war die Anzahl der Königinnen mit der Menge der Brutstadien positiv korreliert, aber negativ mit der Menge der Brustadien pro Königin.

Anscheinend besiedelt die polygyne Form mehr nördliche Gebiete als die monogyne, ihre Areale überschneiden sich kaum.

Aufgrund der jahreszeitlich verschiedenen Schwarmzeiten sind die monogyne und die polygyne Form vonC. nawai möglicherweise zwei verschiedene Arten.

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Satoh, T. Comparisons between two apparently distinct forms ofCamponotus nawai ITO (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ins. Soc 36, 277–292 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224881

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