RAID SITE LOCATION, RECRUITMENT AND AGE POLYETHISM IN THE SLAVE-MAKING ANT POLYERGUS LUCIDUS MAYR (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE).
Item
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Title
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RAID SITE LOCATION, RECRUITMENT AND AGE POLYETHISM IN THE SLAVE-MAKING ANT POLYERGUS LUCIDUS MAYR (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE).
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Identifier
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AAI8222937
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identifier
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8222937
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Creator
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COOL-KWAIT, ELLEN.
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Contributor
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Howard Topoff
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Date
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1982
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Biology, General
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Abstract
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Field and laboratory studies of the slave-making ant Polyergus lucidus Mayr were undertaken to provide information concerning the behavior of Polyergus workers preceding and during raiding in order elucidate the system whereby target nests are located by scouts and subsequently by raiding groups. I examined the ontogeny of behavior related to raiding and the biology of the species as it shapes and is shaped by the slave-making life. 5-10% of Polyergus individually explore the habitat each afternoon before raids. Some of these locate Formica nests; secondary scouts then retrace all or part of these initial scout trails. The choice of which nest will be raided is best predicted by the largest total number of trips made on all or part of the trail by scouts. The initial scout becomes the leader of the raid. The target is almost invariably scouted on the raid day, even if previously raided.;On a given day only 5-15% of the Polyergus are active before raids. A changing group circles on the mixed nest surface and includes scouts before and after explorations as well as individuals that do not scout. Members of each but the youngest age class participate in these roles, but only a small percentage of each age class is represented, indicating differences in behavior between individuals of the same age. Age polyethism also occurs; greater percentages of the older age groups are scouts, the middle groups are less well represented, and the youngest do not scout or circle although there may be participation in raids and emigrations from the third day of life.;Approximately 75% of all raid retrieved brood was eaten by the mixed colony, 25% became slaves. Syncolonial Polyergus queens and queens from other mixed nests using F. schaufussi slaves came to the mixed nest after mating flights, sometimes following raid or scout trails inbound. Some then followed raids to Formica nests, remaining there alone after raids, and sometimes being adopted there. No budding occurred.;Polyergus workers assist in emigration using raiding behavior in retrieving Formica workers from the old nest, the only context in which Polyergus carry adults, and only Formica.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Biology
