Summary
Nest relocation behavior in the Japanese queenless ant,Pristomyrmex pungens (Myrmicinae), was investigated in two study fields (site A and site Y) in Nagoya City. This species did not construct elaborate subterranean nests but frequently relocated its nests instead. Mean nest longevities were 17.4 days in site A and 15.7 days in site Y, shorter than those of other ants living in similar climatic regions. There was no apparent seasonal change in the frequency of nest relocation throughout the ant's active season, but nest site preference changed seasonally. Nest relocations did not follow a cyclical pattern. Despite the frequent nest relocations, nests were always distributed uniformly. Mean nest relocation distances were 6.8 m in site A and 3.9 m in site Y. Two consecutive nest relocations tended to be in opposite directions. The direction of nest movement was not affected by the distance to a neighbouring nest. Nest movements were usually confined within a small area. Time spent by a colony to relocate its nest was estimated as 20 hr. The proportion of polydomous colonies was 13.7e% in site A and 2.3% in site Y (facultative polydomy). Number of nests per colony tended to increase in summer. Artificial removal of weeds on which workers were collecting aphids' elicited nest relocation. Adaptive and ecological significances of the nest relocation of this ant were discussed.
Zusammenfassung
Das Nestplatzwechselverhalten der königinnenlosen japanischen AmeisePristomyrmex pungens (Myrmicinae) wurde an zwei Stellen (A und Y) im Stadtgebiet von Nagoya untersucht. Diese Art legt keine wohlausgebauten unterirdischen Nester an, sondern wechselt statt dessen häufig ihren Nistplatz.
Die mittlers Aufenhaltsdauer an einem Nestplatz, betrug 17,4 Tage an Stelle A und 17.7 Tage an Stelle Y. Dies ist kürzer als bei anderen Ameisen, die in klimatisch ähnlichen Gebieten leben. Es gab keine erkennbaren jahreszeitlichen Anderungen in der Häufigkeit des Umziehens während der Aktivitätsphase der Ameisen, jedoch schwankeb die Nestplatzpräferenzen saisonal. Der Nestwechsel folgt keinem zyklischen Rhythmus.
Trotz der häufigen Nestwechsel waren die Nester stets gleichmäßig verteilt. Die mittlers Umzugsdistanzen betrugen an Platz A 6,8 m und an Platz Y 3,9 m. Zwei aufei nanderfolgende Umzüge tendierten dazu, in entgegengesetzte Richtungen zu führen. Die Umzugsrichtung wurde nicht durch die Distanz zu einem Nachbarnest beeinflußt. Umzüge fanden in der Regel kleinräumig statt.
Die Zeit, die eine Kolonie für den Umzug benötigte, wurde auf 20 Stunden geschätzt. Der Anteil an polydomen Kolonien betrug an Stelle A 13,7 und an Stelle Y 2,3% (fakultative Polydomie). Der Anteil der Zweignester pro Kolonie zeigt im Sommer eine zunehmende Tendenz. Künstliche Entfernung von Pflanzen, auf denen die Ameisen Honigtau von Blattläusen sammleten, löste Nestwechsel aus. Es wird diskutiert, welche adaptive und ökologische Bedeutung der Nestwechsel bei dieser Ameise besitzt.
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Tsuji, K. Nest relocations in the Japanese queenless antPristomyrmex pungens Mayr. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ins. Soc 35, 321–340 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02225809
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02225809