Effect of queen phenotype and social environment on early queen mortality in incipient colonies of the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta
Article Abstract:
In the any species, such as the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, queens may be alone in their colonies, or in associations of two or more. There are larger worker broods in colonies founded by associations, and survival rate is higher. The effect of social environment and queen body mass on early mortality has been studied, and mortality was found to be higher for queens within associations. Mortality of solitary queens did not depend significantly on body mass.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1999
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Allocation of liquid food to larvae via trophallaxis in colonies of the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta
Article Abstract:
Nurse worker fire ants attend larvae of the fire ants repeatedly every few seconds, gauge the hunger of larvae through interaction of their antennae with the maxillary palpi and make a feeding or not-to-feed decision based on the size and hunger of the larvae. Adherence to these rules by the worker ants facilitates uniform feeding of the larvae. A control system at the individual level is probably due to the choice for binary decision in the ants.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1995
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Ritualized conflict on Odontomachus brunneus and the generation of interaction-based task allocation: A new organizational mechanism in ants
Article Abstract:
Reproduction-based dominance interactions in the ant Odontomachus brunneus, are shown to control worker movement and location, governing task allocation within the colony. Workers are distributed in the colony so that the more subordinate the individual, the more peripheral here location with regard to the reproductive centre of the nest. Subordinate driving and antennal shivering were identified as new behaviors.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1999
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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