Genetic differentiation in sympatric wood ants, Formica rufa and F. polyctena

2004 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Gyllenstrand ◽  
P. Sepp� ◽  
P. Pamilo
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Differentiation ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Wood Ants

scholarly journals A motion compensation treadmill for untethered wood ants (Formica rufa): evidence for transfer of orientation memories from free-walking training

2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (24) ◽  
pp. jeb228601
Author(s):  
Roman Goulard ◽  
Cornelia Buehlmann ◽  
Jeremy E. Niven ◽  
Paul Graham ◽  
Barbara Webb
Keyword(s):  
Motion Compensation ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Insect Navigation ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Controlled Environments ◽  
Freely Moving ◽  
Time Frames ◽  
Natural Scale

ABSTRACTThe natural scale of insect navigation during foraging makes it challenging to study under controlled conditions. Virtual reality and trackball setups have offered experimental control over visual environments while studying tethered insects, but potential limitations and confounds introduced by tethering motivates the development of alternative untethered solutions. In this paper, we validate the use of a motion compensator (or ‘treadmill’) to study visually driven behaviour of freely moving wood ants (Formica rufa). We show how this setup allows naturalistic walking behaviour and preserves foraging motivation over long time frames. Furthermore, we show that ants are able to transfer associative and navigational memories from classical maze and arena contexts to our treadmill. Thus, we demonstrate the possibility to study navigational behaviour over ecologically relevant durations (and virtual distances) in precisely controlled environments, bridging the gap between natural and highly controlled laboratory experiments.

scholarly journals Fight tactics in wood ants: individuals in smaller groups fight harder but die faster

2011 ◽  
Vol 278 (1722) ◽  
pp. 3243-3250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim P. Batchelor ◽  
Mark Briffa
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Resource Holding Potential ◽  
Attrition Rates ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Social Animals ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
The Individual

When social animals engage in inter-group contests, the outcome is determined by group sizes and individual masses, which together determine group resource-holding potential (‘group RHP’). Individuals that perceive themselves as being in a group with high RHP may receive a motivational increase and increase their aggression levels. Alternatively, individuals in lower RHP groups may increase their aggression levels in an attempt to overcome the RHP deficit. We investigate how ‘group RHP’ influences agonistic tactics in red wood ants Formica rufa . Larger groups had higher total agonistic indices, but per capita agonistic indices were highest in the smallest groups, indicating that individuals in smaller groups fought harder. Agonistic indices were influenced by relative mean mass, focal group size, opponent group size and opponent group agonistic index. Focal group attrition rates decreased as focal group relative agonistic indices increased and there was a strong negative influence of relative mean mass. The highest focal attrition rates were received when opponent groups were numerically large and composed of large individuals. Thus, fight tactics in F. rufa seem to vary with both aspects of group RHP, group size and the individual attributes of group members, indicating that information on these are available to fighting ants.

Seasonal Changes in Sugar and Amino Acid Preference in Red Wood Ants of The Formica rufa Group

Sociobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
Natalia E.L. Madsen ◽  
Joachim Offenberg
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Sugar Solution ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Red Wood Ants ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Formica Rufa Group ◽  
Mutualistic Relationship

Red wood ants of the Formica rufa group are important ecosystem engineers throughout the Northern Hemisphere with potential to be commercially produced and used as predatory agents in biological control programs. However, in order to do that, their mutualistic relationship with aphids needs to be disrupted. This may be achieved by developing artificial sugar-based solutions with a composition that makes them more attractive than aphid honeydew. The present field study investigated Formica rufa’s preference for several sugar and amino acid sources, as well as potential seasonal changes in these preferences. Red wood ants consistently preferred sucrose to monosaccharides and were most attracted to solutions containing an amino acid source, albeit seasonal differences were observed with regard to which amino acid sources were most preferred. Recruitment to offered sugar solutions was highest during July, when colony requirements were high, and during October, when alternative food sources were scarce. Since ant preference for sugar solution constituents seems to be species-specific and show seasonal dynamics, artificial food aimed at disrupting ant-aphid mutualisms should be tailored to individual species and seasons.

scholarly journals Wood ant assemblages of Formica rufa group on lake islands and in mainland woodland in Central Finland

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jouni Sorvari
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Occurrence Probability ◽  
Island Size ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Formica Rufa Group ◽  
Species Area ◽  
Island Community ◽  
Species Area Relationship ◽  
Formica Lugubris

Associations of island size and isolation on the occurrence and species richness of five wood ant species of the Formica rufa group (F. rufa, F. aquilonia, F. lugubris, F. polyctena and F. pratensis) was tested in the Lake Konnevesi archipelago in Central Finland. In addition, the species composition was compared to that of mainland forests of the same region. Island isolation had no associations with the wood ant occurrence in this archipelago, but for most species, increasing island size was positively associated with the occurrence probability. According to the findings among the five species, Formica lugubris is the best adapted for insular living. There was a positive species–area relationship as the species richness of wood ants increased with an increasing island size. The island community of wood ants was dominated by colonies of the monogynous (single queen) species whereas the mainland community was dominated by those of polygynous (multiple queen) species.

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