Perilaku Pemilihan Makanan dan Pengenalan Anggota Koloni pada Semut Rangrang Oecophylla smaragdina

Weaver ants Oecophylla smaragdina are social insects that recognize nestmates using pheromone. This study analyzes the feeding behavior and nestmate recognition of weaver ants in the urban area of three different islands (Sumatra: Baturaja; Java: Banyuwangi; Papua: Sorong). The free ants were placed in the arena composed of chicken meat, sugar, bananas as the baits. Ten trapped ants were also located in the arena to explore the nestmate recognition between the free and the trapped ants. Five types of behaviors, i.e., approach, stalking, communication, competition, and agonistic, were recorded in 6 days. Food preferences were indicated by the number of conduct towards the feeding sites, and nestmate recognition was indicated by approaching the trapped nestmate. The results showed that the percentage of the approach behavior of free ants was the highest in the three islands but had no significant difference between Sumatra and Java and between Java and Sorong (p-value >0.05). However, the study showed significant differences for the other four behaviors observed. As predicted, the percentage of chicken meat foraged by the ants was the highest due to the carnivorous behavior. The free ants showed the nestmate recognition to the trapped ants in all behavior, except competition.

Population and Nesting Behaviour of Weaver Ants, Oecophylla smaragdina from Meghalaya, India

Weaver ants are known for their unique nest-building skills using leaves and larval-silk as a binding agent. The weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina are present in large numbers in the Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya. Ri-Bhoi district is a hot and humid place with 22 -30°C. This is the first study from this region to examine the nesting behavior along with the population of these ants from here. It was noted that they build nests in different types of trees but it is more abundant in needlewood trees (Schima wallichi) locally known as ‘diengngan.’ From the central trunk of the S. wallichi tree, the nearest distance of the nest is about 0.7 m and the farthest up to 3.4 m. The nests of O. smaragdina are somewhat round-oval and use leaves of different sizes ranging from 8-32 cm2. The nests are made at a height ranging from 4-25 m and their average nest size is about 9,483 cm3. They utilize about twenty leaves with a specific number of chambers to keep their broods, the queen, and food. The number of worker ants, pupae, and larvae are variable in different nests because of nest size, location/height of the nests, and the trees. When the nest population increases, they locate a new spot and build a satellite nest where they get the right amount of sunlight and shelter from predators and adverse environmental factors. These weaver ants are also used as medicine, food and fish bait by the indigenous people in Meghalaya.

An arachnid′s guide to be an ant: morphological and behavioural mimicry in ant-mimicking spiders

Batesian mimicry imposes several challenges to mimics and evokes adaptations in multiple sensory modalities. Myrmecomorphy, morphological and behavioral resemblance to ants, is seen in over 2000 arthropod species. Ant-like resemblance is observed in at least 13 spider families despite spiders having a distinct body plan compared to ants. Quantifying the extent to which spider's shape, size, and behavior resemble model ants will allow us to comprehend the evolutionary pressures that have facilitated myrmecomorphy. Myrmaplata plataleoides are 'accurate' mimics of the weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina. In this study, we quantify the speed of movement of model, mimic, and non-mimetic jumping spiders. We use traditional and geometric morphometrics to quantify traits such as foreleg and hindleg size, body shape between the model ant, mimic, and non-mimics. Our results suggest that while the mimics closely resemble the model ants in speed of movement, they occupy an intermediate morphological space compared to the model ants and non-mimics. We suggest that ant-mimicking spiders are better at mimicking ant's locomotory movement than morphology and overall body shape. Our study provides a framework to understand the multimodal nature of mimicry and helps discern the relative contributions of such traits that drive mimetic accuracy in ant-mimicking spiders.

Wireless Sensor Network Monitoring Suhu, Kelembaban, Getaran dan Bau dengan Sistem Pentransmisian MQTT

AbstrakMemelihara burung merupakan salah satu hobi masyarakat Indonesia. Kebutuhan gizi dan nutrisi berupa protein pada burung dapat diperoleh dari suatu makanan salah satu makanan burung kroto atau telur semut rangrang. Pada budidaya semut rangrang, suhu dan kelembaban dapat mempengaruhi semut rangrang dalam bertelur. Masalah yang dihadapi saat ini pada budidaya semut rangrang adalah peternak tidak dapat memperkirakan kondisi suhu dan kelembaban. Mereka hanya memperkirakan suhu dan kelembaban dengan merasakan panas di dalam ruangan. Adapun masalah lain yang dihadapi adalah adanya getaran dan bau kimia di sekitar toples tempat semut rangrang di budidaya yang dapat membuat semut stress dan dapat menurunkan hasil produksi kroto. Dari permasalahan ini dilakukan penelitian dengan membuatan model pengatur suhu, kelembaban, getaran dan bau kimia dapat dimanfaatkan untuk menggunakan mikrokontroler Arduino UNO, sensor DHT11, sensor SW-420 dan sensor MQ-02 pada ruang budidaya semut rangrang dengan menggunakan system pentransmisian MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport). Alat ini akan mempermudah budidaya untuk mengatur nilai suhu, kelembaban, getaran dan bau kimia di dalam ruang budidaya tersebut. Alat ini menggunakan mist maker sebagai alat penghasil uap dan buzzer sebagai alarm secara otomatis agar budidaya semut rangrang stabil dan menghasilkan produksi kroto yang berkualitas. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa jarak mempengaruhi kuat sinyal dan delay atau selisih waktu transmisi data yang mana pada jarak 5m sampai jarak 7m sinyal semakin melemah dan rata-rata selisih waktu transmisi data betambah sekitar 5.1 sec hingga 5.9 sec. Hasil penelitian ini juga menunjukkan bahwa sistem pentrasmisian MQTT yang menggunakan ESP8266 memiliki rata-rata jumlah packet loss secara keseluruhan sebesar 35%.AbstractCaring of birds is one of society hobbies in Indonesia. Nutritional needs and nutrients in the form of proteins in birds can be obtained from food which is kroto bird food or weaver ant egg. In the weaver ant cultivation, temperature and humidity can affect the weaver ant in laying eggs. The problem of weaver ants cultivation is the farmer cannot predict the conditions of temperature and humidity. They only estimate the temperature and humidity by feeling heat in the room. The other problem faced is the presence of vibration and chemical odors around the jar where the weaver ants process of cultivation can make they stress and reduce the production of kroto. From this problem, research is carried out by making a models of temperature, humidity, vibration and chemical odors can be ultilized by using arduino uno microcontroller, DHT11 sensor, SW-420 sensor and MQ-02 sensor in the space of weaver ants cultivation by using the MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) transmission system. This tool will make the cultivation easier to regulate the value of temperature, humidity, vibration and chemical odors in the space of cultivation. This tool uses a mist maker as steam generator and buzzer as an automatic alarm so that the cultivation of the weaver ants is stable and produces quality of kroto production. The results of this study indicate that the distance affects the signal strength and delay or difference in data transmission time which at a distance of 5m to a distance of 7m the signal weakens and the average difference in data transmission time increases around 5.1 sec to 5.9 sec. The results of this study also indicate that the MQTT transmission system that uses ESP8266 has an average number of packet loss overall of 35%.

Overlooked Scents: Chemical Profile of Soma, Volatile Emissions and Trails of the Green Tree Ant, Oecophylla smaragdina

The green tree ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, is one of only two recognized species of weaver ants. While the identity and functions of chemicals produced and emitted by its congener O. longinoda have been studied quite extensively and serve as a valuable model in chemical ecology research, little comparable information is available about O. smaragdina. Although some analyses of chemicals produced and emitted by O. smaragdina have been reported, the literature is fragmentary and incomplete for this species. To address this knowledge gap, and to enable comparisons in the chemical ecology of the two weaver ant species, we here describe diverse chemicals from the cuticle, Dufour’s glands, poison glands, head, headspace volatiles, and trails of O. smaragdina.