Odour similarities between the slave-keeping ants Formica sanguinea and Polyergus rufescens and their slaves Formica fusca and Formica rufibarbis

1968 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 995-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar Bergström ◽  
Jan Löfqvist
Keyword(s):  
Formica Fusca ◽  
Polyergus Rufescens ◽  
Formica Sanguinea

scholarly journals Behavioural and socially parasitic relations between Polyergus rufescens (Latr.) and Formica polyctena Först. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Czechowski
Keyword(s):  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Formica Polyctena ◽  
Chemical Camouflage ◽  
Białowieża Forest ◽  
Ne Poland ◽  
Formica Fusca ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Polyergus Rufescens ◽  
Mutual Relations ◽  
Competition Hierarchy

Polyergus rufescens (Latr.), an obligate slave-maker, and Formica polyctena Först., an aggressive, territorial wood ant species, rarely co-occur in the field, and there are almost no data on their mutual relations under natural conditions. These interactions were studied in the Bialowieza Forest (NE Poland), based on two P. rufescens colonies (with Formica fusca L. slaves) nesting within the territories of F. polyctena. The wood ants routinely searched the immediate vicinity of P. rufescens nests, whereas P. rufescens ants raided F. fusca colonies very close to F. polyctena nests or their columns passed right next to them, they eventually crossed wood ants’ foraging and removal routes, and even directly attacked F. polyctena colonies and robbed their brood. Interspeciflc relations in these particular situations are described and discussed in the contexts of supposed chemical camouflage/mimicry of P. rufescens and interspecific competition hierarchy in ants.

scholarly journals Hyenism in Ants: Non-Target Ants Profit From Polyergus rufescens Raids (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Sociobiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Pavel Pech
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Competitive Interactions ◽  
Ant Community ◽  
Formica Fusca ◽  
Dry Biomass ◽  
Polyergus Rufescens

The presence of slavemaker ants alters the structure of the ant community. The influence of slavemakers on non-host ants is believed to be indirect, via changing competitive interactions among the ants. According to my observation Myrmica sabuleti (and probably also Lasius alienus) profited from a Polyergus rufescens raid against a Formica fusca nest. Both non-host species collected F. fusca corpses. These carcasses were used as food in the case of M. sabuleti at least. M. sabuleti profited substantially from the Polyergus raid because the dry biomass weight of the collected F. fusca carcasses was approximately half of the dry biomass weight of all M. sabuleti workers.

Impact of extrafloral nectar availability and plant genotype on ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) visitation to quaking aspen (Salicaceae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 148 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathon R. Newman ◽  
Diane Wagner ◽  
Patricia Doak
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Quaking Aspen ◽  
Plant Genotype ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Natural Induction ◽  
Formica Fusca ◽  
Time Of Year ◽  
Nectar Availability

AbstractFor quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michaux; Salicaceae) the rate of extrafloral (EF) sugar secretion is increased by defoliation and decreased by drought. Although wholesale blocking of EF nectar has been shown to reduce ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) visitation to aspen, the effect of more subtle and realistic variations in nectar availability on ant recruitment is unknown. Working in Alaskan boreal forest (United States of America), we reduced and supplemented EF nectar availability on potted aspen ramets of three genotypes and surveyed visitation by free-living Formica fusca (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ants were more responsive to a subtle increase in sugar availability than to a decrease. While nectar reduction had no effect on ant visitation, nectar supplementation increased ant visitation to one aspen genotype by 70% during an early summer trial. Average ant visitation to different aspen genotypes varied during the late summer, indicating that aspen genotype can influence attractiveness to ants. We conclude that natural induction of EF secretion in response to herbivory may benefit aspen through improved ant recruitment, though the response is dependent on aspen genotype and time of year. Differences among aspen genets in attractiveness to ants could influence the relative success of genotypes, especially in settings in which aspen regenerates from seed.

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