Multiple sources of celestial compass information in the Central Australian desert ant Melophorus bagoti

Over the expanse of the salt lakes of the Lake Eyre basin lives a species of ant of the genus Melophorus (as yet unnamed), both on the edges of the salt-pan and on the salt-pan itself. Most of the foragers are small (~3.0–5.0 mm), but ~10% of the ants seen foraging are much larger (~7.0 mm) and may form a soldier caste. Foragers are thermophilic and show diurnal activity, displaying a single-peaked activity profile across the day, with activity time limited to 2–6 h at most each day (during the late-summer study period, 28 February to 28 March 2012). They forage largely for dead arthropods, but also occasionally bring home plant materials. Foraging success (not considering possible liquid food intake) is ~20%, resembling the success rate of their congener Melophorus bagoti, which inhabits cluttered environments. When displaced with food from a feeder, the ants head systematically and precisely in the feeder-to-nest direction, thus exhibiting path integration abilities involving celestial compass cues. The study of this species provides an interesting comparative perspective in contrasting desert ants of the same genus and thus genetic heritage inhabiting habitats differing in complexity of panoramic terrestrial cues as well as comparing ecologically similar species inhabiting the same type of habitat (in the present case, salt-pans) but differing in their phylogenetic relationships.

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Finding the nest: inbound searching behaviour in the Australian desert ant, Melophorus bagoti

Animal Behaviour ◽

10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.02.008 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 81 (5) ◽

pp. 1031-1038 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Patrick Schultheiss ◽

Ken Cheng

Keyword(s):

Searching Behaviour ◽

Desert Ant ◽

Melophorus Bagoti

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Traveling in clutter: Navigation in the Central Australian desert ant Melophorus bagoti

Behavioural Processes ◽

10.1016/j.beproc.2008.10.015 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 80 (3) ◽

pp. 261-268 ◽

Cited By ~ 84

Author(s):

Ken Cheng ◽

Ajay Narendra ◽

Stefan Sommer ◽

Rüdiger Wehner

Keyword(s):

Desert Ant ◽

Melophorus Bagoti

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Oceili: A Celestial Compass in the Desert Ant Cataglyphis

Science ◽

10.1126/science.228.4696.192 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 228 (4696) ◽

pp. 192-194 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

K. FENT ◽

R. WEHNER

Keyword(s):

Desert Ant ◽

Celestial Compass

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Nest Relocation and Colony Founding in the Australian Desert Ant,Melophorus bagotiLubbock (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Psyche A Journal of Entomology ◽

10.1155/2010/435838 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2010 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Patrick Schultheiss ◽

Sebastian Schwarz ◽

Antoine Wystrach

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Colony Founding ◽

Circumstantial Evidence ◽

Nest Relocation ◽

Desert Ants ◽

Desert Ant ◽

Multiple Matings ◽

Trail Laying ◽

Mating Flights ◽

Melophorus Bagoti

Even after years of research on navigation in the Red Honey Ant,Melophorus bagoti, much of its life history remains elusive. Here, we present observations on nest relocation and the reproductive and founding stages of colonies. Nest relocation is possibly aided by trail laying behaviour, which is highly unusual for solitary foraging desert ants. Reproduction occurs in synchronised mating flights, which are probably triggered by rain. Queens may engage in multiple matings, and there is circumstantial evidence that males are chemically attracted to queens. After the mating flight, the queens found new colonies independently and singly. Excavation of these founding colonies reveals first insights into their structure.

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Role of the pheromone for orientation in the group foraging ant, Veromessor pergandei

10.31219/osf.io/w2rn4 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Cody A Freas ◽

Marcia L Spetch

Keyword(s):

Vector State ◽

Group Foraging ◽

Directional Information ◽

Desert Ant ◽

Correct Orientation ◽

Celestial Compass ◽

Vector Orientation ◽

Veromessor Pergandei ◽

Path Integrator

Role of the pheromone for orientation in the group foraging ant, Veromessor pergandei Navigation is comprised of a variety of strategies which rely on multiple external cues to shape a navigator’s behavioral output. An additional navigational challenge is coping with forces such as wind and water currents that push navigators off-course. Here, we explore the cue interactions that dictate orientation and foragers’ ability to counter course altering rotational changes in the desert ant, Veromessor pergandei. We found a cross sensory interaction between the pheromone cue and the path integrator underlies correct orientation during the inbound journey. The celestial compass provides directional information while the presence of the trail pheromone acts as a critical context cue, triggering distinct behavioral responses (vector orientation, search and backtracking). A particularly interesting interaction occurs between the pheromone and the forager’s vector state. While exposed to the pheromone, foragers orient to the vector direction regardless of vector state, while in the pheromone’s absence the current vector triggers the switch between behaviors. Such interactions maximize the foragers’ return to the nest and inhibit movement off the trail. Finally, our manipulations continuously pushed foragers away from their desired heading, yet foragers were highly proficient at counteracting these changes, steering to maintain a correct heading even at rotational speeds of ~40°/s.

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Foraging ecology of the thermophilic Australian desert ant, Melophorus bagoti

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo05023 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 53 (5) ◽

pp. 301 ◽

Cited By ~ 60

Author(s):

Barbara Muser ◽

Stefan Sommer ◽

Harald Wolf ◽

Rüdiger Wehner

Keyword(s):

Foraging Ecology ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Foraging Efficiency ◽

Foraging Activity ◽

Foraging Success ◽

Success Rates ◽

Desert Ant ◽

Foraging Site ◽

Intercolony Aggression ◽

Melophorus Bagoti

The paper describes the foraging ecology of the Australian desert ant, Melophorus bagoti, a thermophilic, diurnal scavenger with ground-nesting colonies. Overlapping foraging ranges, low foraging success rates, and intercolony aggression suggest intense competition for food between colonies. Daily foraging starts when soil surface temperatures approach 50°C. Workers search individually and collect predominantly dead insects. Occasionally, they consume plant secretions. Foraging activity peaks on mid-summer days. On cloudy days the onset of foraging is delayed, and the foraging activity is low. Ants do not forage on rainy days. Typically, workers start their above-ground activities with a few short exploration runs. On average, they perform one foraging run on the first day of their outdoor lives. With age they gradually increase foraging site fidelity and daily foraging effort. Individual foraging efficiency is low at the beginning but grows with experience. However, due to a high mortality rate and, hence, high forager turnover, average rates of foraging success for a colony remain rather low. The outdoor activity gradually decreases towards the end of summer and appears to stop completely during the winter months.

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