Summary
Laboratory tests with mated females of the leaf-cutting antsAcromyrmex striatus (Myrmicinae, Attini) were conducted to determine if the colony foundation is a solitary or a mutualistic process. We have also tested the effect of foundresses density and number of available areas in this process. Three bioassays were performed: with single foundresses; with paired foundresses; and with groups of 8 to 18 foundresses. The results suggest that the foundation can be by haplometrosis or pleometrosis, possibly depending on physical distances between or densities of foundresses. Foraging activity was common in haplometrotic queens and in foundress pairs, but no foraging occurred in groups of foundresses.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Buschinger, A., 1990. Regulation of worker and queen formation in ants with special reference to reproduction and colony development. In:Social Insects: An Evolutionary Approach to Castes and Reproduction. (W. Engels, Ed.). Springer-Verlag. Berlin, pp. 37–57.
Diehl-Fleig, E. and M. E. de P. Lucchese, 1991. Reaçôes comportamentais de operârias deAcromyrmex striatus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) na presença de fungos entomopatogênicos.Res. bras. Ent. 35:101–107.
Diehl-Fleig, E. and M. E. de P. Lucchese, 1992. Nest foundation byAcromyrmex striatus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). In:Biology and Evolution of Social Insects. (J. Billen, Ed.). Leuven University Press. Leuven. Belgium, pp. 51–54.
Hölldobler, B. and E. O. Wilson, 1990.The Ants. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Mass. pp. 732.
Kermarrec, A., G. Febvay and M. Deccharme, 1989. Protection of Leaf-Cutting Ants from Biohazards: Is there a Future for Microbiological Control? In:Fire Ants and Leaf-Cuting Ants. (C. S. Lofgren and R. K. Vander Meer, Eds.). Westview Studies in Insect Biology. London, pp. 339–356.
Mariconi, F. A. M., 1970.As saúvas. Ed. Ceres, São Paulo. 167 p.
Mintzer, A., 1987. Primary polygyny in the antAtta texana: number and weight of females and colony foundation success in the laboratory.Ins. Soc. 34:108–117.
Nonacs, P., 1992. Queen condition and alate density affect pleometrosis in the antLasius pallitarsis.Ins. Soc. 39:3–13.
Pamilo, P. and R. Rosengren, 1984. Evolution of nesting strategies of ants: genetic evidence from different population types ofFormica ants.Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 21:331–348.
Rissing, S. W., R. A. Johnson and G. B. Pollock, 1986. Natal nest distribution and pleometrosis in the desert leaf-cutter antAcromyrmex versicolor (Pergande) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).Psyche 93:117–186.
Rissing, S. W., G. B. Pollock, M. R. Higgins, R. H. Hagen and D. R. Smith, 1989. Foraging specialization without relatedness or dominance among co-founding ant queens.Nature 338:420–422.
Rissing, S. W. and G. B. Pollock, 1991. An experimental analysis of pleometrotic advantage in the desert seed-harvester antMessor pergandei (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).Ins. Soc. 38:205–211.
Shields, W. S. and R. M. Heeler, 1979. Analysis of contingency tables with sparse values.Journal of Mark. Res. 16:382–386.
Tschinkel, W. R. and D. F. Howard, 1983. Colony founding by pleometrosis in the fire antSolenopsis invicta. Behav. Ecol.Sociobiol. 12:103–113.
Weber, N. A., 1982. Fungus Ants. In:Social Insects, vol. IV. (H. Hermann, Ed.). Academic Press, New York. pp. 255–363.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Diehl-Fleig, E., de Araújo, A.M. Haplometrosis and pleometrosis in the antAcromyrmex striatus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ins. Soc 43, 47–51 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01253955
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01253955