Formica francoeuri responds to pheromones and defensive chemical cues of social bees

• Published in: Insectes sociaux 2020-11, Vol.67 (4), p.547-556
• Main Authors: Phan, P. T., Wilson Rankin, E. E., Purcell, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Entomology; Life Sciences; Short Communication
• ISSN: 0020-1812; 1420-9098
• DOI: 10.1007/s00040-020-00788-z

Insects must detect and respond to diverse chemical cues in a complex chemical landscape. Intraspecific and intraguild communication have received a lot of attention, especially among bee taxa. However, little is known about interspecific chemical communication in general and in non-bees in particular. Ants, such as Formica francoeuri , also are opportunistic floral visitors who seek the carbohydrate-rich rewards of flowers. Thus, these ants likely encounter aggressive competitors for nectar, such as bees. Here, we performed a series of experiments to examine how ant foragers respond to bee pheromones, venom and sting glands in the context of foraging. Understanding how ants utilize non-target chemical cues will identify previously cryptic interactions and provide new insights into the hidden mechanisms governing foraging decisions. As the foraging decisions by floral visitors have a direct impact on the pollination mutualism, studies such as this will help us build better predictive models of plant–pollinator networks and develop hypotheses as to how these interaction networks may change with shifts in the floral visitor community.