Haplometrosis and pleometrosis in the ant Acromyrmex striatus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Laboratory tests with mated females of the leaf-cutting ants Acromyrmex 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. Thre...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Insectes sociaux 1996, Vol.43 (1), p.47-51
Main Authors: DIEHL-FLEIG, E, DE ARAUJO, A. M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acromyrmex striatus
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Formicidae
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hymenoptera
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Laboratory tests with mated females of the leaf-cutting ants Acromyrmex 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.
ISSN:0020-1812
1420-9098
DOI:10.1007/BF01253955