Quantitative cognition in carpenter ants

AbstractQuantification of interference with biological control agents can provide support for anecdotal claims of success or failure of agent establishment and efficacy. This study was initiated because of observed predation of cinnabar moth larvae by carpenter ants when releasing larvae for the control of tansy ragwort, an invasive plant in Montana. Biotic and abiotic factors were compared among three sites with historically variable moth population establishment. Two experiments were developed to (1) observe and document insect activity, predation, or disappearance on tansy ragwort stems either protected or accessible to ants; and (2) quantify the effects of ant exclusion on herbivory of tansy ragwort. Site comparisons indicated that ant colony density was highest at the driest of three sites, and, interestingly, no ant colonies were detected at the site with higher observed numbers of moth larvae and adults and lower densities of tansy ragwort. Available substrate (logs and stumps) for ant colonization did not differ between the three sites. In the ant exclusion experiments, a larger number of larvae were missing on plants accessible to ants (63%) compared with plants where ants were excluded (39%) after 36 h. Direct observation of predation of larvae by carpenter ants accounted for 9% of missing larvae on stems accessible to ants. Larvae were able to consume 81% of original flowers or buds on ant-excluded stems, compared with 18% consumption on ant-accessible stems, suggesting that ant predation could limit the efficacy of cinnabar moth larvae. These results provide one of many possible explanations for the anecdotal observations of large, persistent populations of cinnabar moths in moist areas. This work emphasizes the importance of post-release observation and monitoring to detect and, ideally, quantify factors to support anecdotal perceptions regarding the fate and subsequent efficacy of insect biological-control agents.

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BREEDING SYSTEM, COLONY STRUCTURE, AND GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION IN THE CAMPONOTUS FESTINATUS SPECIES COMPLEX OF CARPENTER ANTS

Evolution ◽

10.1554/04-672.1 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 59 (10) ◽

pp. 2185

Author(s):

Michael A. D. Goodisman ◽

Daniel A. Hahn

Keyword(s):

Genetic Differentiation ◽

Breeding System ◽

Species Complex ◽

Colony Structure ◽

Carpenter Ants

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Relevance of the Endosymbiosis of Blochmannia floridanus and Carpenter Ants at Different Stages of the Life Cycle of the Host

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.00933-06 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 72 (9) ◽

pp. 6027-6033 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Evelyn Zientz ◽

Ivo Beyaert ◽

Roy Gross ◽

Heike Feldhaar

Keyword(s):

Developmental Stages ◽

Aromatic Amino Acids ◽

Nitrogen Recycling ◽

Camponotus Floridanus ◽

Real Time Quantitative Pcr ◽

Carpenter Ants ◽

Metabolic Functions ◽

General Relevance ◽

Individual Host ◽

Phases Of Development

ABSTRACT Expression of several genes possibly involved in the symbiotic relationship between the obligate intracellular endosymbiont Blochmannia floridanus and its ant host Camponotus floridanus was investigated at different developmental stages of the host by real-time quantitative PCR. These included a set of genes related to nitrogen metabolism (ureC, ureF, glnA, and speB) as well as genes involved in the synthesis of the aromatic amino acid tyrosine (tyrA, aspC, and hisC). The overall transcriptional activity of Blochmannia was found to be quite low during early developmental stages and to increase steadily with host age. However, a concerted peak of gene expression related to nitrogen recycling could be detected around the entire process of pupation, while expression of biosynthesis pathways for aromatic amino acids was elevated only during a short phase in pupation. These data suggest an important role of certain metabolic functions for the symbiotic interactions of the bacteria and an individual host organism in early phases of development. General relevance of Blochmannia for its ant host was tested in fostering experiments with worker groups of Camponotus floridanus, and their success in raising pupae from first-instar larvae was used as a fitness measure. Groups treated with antibiotics had a significantly reduced success in raising the brood in comparison to untreated control groups, indicating that the symbiosis is relevant for the development of the entire colony.

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Antagonistic Behavior Between Evening Bats and Carpenter Ants

Southeastern Naturalist ◽

10.1656/058.008.0117 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 179-181 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael J. Bender ◽

Steven B. Castleberry ◽

Darren A. Miller ◽

T. Bentley Wigley

Keyword(s):

Carpenter Ants ◽

Antagonistic Behavior

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Ants Sense, and Follow, Trail Pheromones of Ant Community Members

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects10110383 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 383 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jaime M. Chalissery ◽

Asim Renyard ◽

Regine Gries ◽

Danielle Hoefele ◽

Santosh Kumar Alamsetti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trail Pheromone ◽

Food Sources ◽

Lasius Niger ◽

Trail Following ◽

Harvester Ants ◽

Community Members ◽

Trail Pheromones ◽

Ant Community ◽

Carpenter Ants ◽

Electroantennographic Detection

Ants deposit trail pheromones that guide nestmates to food sources. We tested the hypotheses that ant community members (Western carpenter ants, Camponotus modoc; black garden ants, Lasius niger; European fire ants, Myrmica rubra) (1) sense, and follow, each other’s trail pheromones, and (2) fail to recognize trail pheromones of allopatric ants (pavement ants, Tetramorium caespitum; desert harvester ants, Novomessor albisetosus; Argentine ants, Linepithema humilis). In gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection analyses of a six-species synthetic trail pheromone blend (6-TPB), La. niger, Ca. modoc, and M. rubra sensed the trail pheromones of all community members and unexpectedly that of T. caespitum. Except for La. niger, all species did not recognize the trail pheromones of N. albisetosus and Li. humilis. In bioassays, La. niger workers followed the 6-TPB trail for longer distances than their own trail pheromone, indicating an additive effect of con- and hetero-specific pheromones on trail-following. Moreover, Ca. modoc workers followed the 6-TPB and their own trail pheromones for similar distances, indicating no adverse effects of heterospecific pheromones on trail-following. Our data show that ant community members eavesdrop on each other’s trail pheromones, and that multiple pheromones can be combined in a lure that guides multiple species of pest ants to lethal food baits.

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