A seasonal natural history of the ant, Odontomachus brunneus

Abstract

A north Florida population of Odontomachus brunneus, a species of ponerine ants, was studied for a oneyear period to determine the annual cycle of reproduction and colony growth, including the foraging biology and seasonal changes in nest architecture. The life cycle of O. brunneus is strongly seasonal. Colonies produce brood for 6 months and are broodless for 6 months. Alates are produced in mixed broods at the beginning of each season, consuming much of the colony's energy reserves. These reserves recover slowly through foraging during the summer's worker production, and rapidly after brood production ceases in October. The foraging population was estimated to average 77% (SD 22) of the workforce. This proportion was not related to colony size and female alates were also found to forage. Nest architecture was found to change seasonally, with winter nests being more than twice as deep as the average summer nest.

The architecture of subterranean ant nests: beauty and mystery underfoot

“…Another example of function is suggested by the upward movement of aging workers in harvester ant nests (and many other ant species) (MacKay 1983;Tschinkel 1999;Hart and Tschinkel 2012;Kwapich and Tschinkel 2013). Brood are found primarily in the bottom third or so of the nest, seeds in a zone above that but still well below the surface, and foragers only in the top 10-15 cm.…”

Caste development and evolution in ants: it's all about size

“…In many other species, queens are produced at the time of year when resources are most abundant (e.g. Hart and Tschinkel, 2012;Murdock and Tschinkel, 2015).…”

Seasonal cycle of the nest composition in the Ponerine ant Cryptopone sauteri (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

“…There were not consistent results on the existence of overwinter larvae in poneroid ants. The lack of overwinter larvae in the nests were reported in some Ponerine ants Brachyponera chinensis and Odontomachus brunneus (Gotoh & Ito, 2008; Hart & Tschinkel, 2012), while Talbot (2012) reported that Ponera differed from Amblyopone or Proceratium in that it did not overwinter larvae. In C. sauteri, the developed larvae were collected even in the beginning of spring (May), strongly suggesting that larvae overwinter.…”

“…For example, "Encyclopedia of Japanese ants", which was published in 2014, listed more than 290 species in Japan and provided important taxonomic descriptions; however, the life histories and biological characteristics of the listed ant species have not yet been examined in detail (Terayama et al, 2014). Life history data are indispensable to establish molecular and chemical studies (Schlick-Steiner et al, 2005;Katzerke et al, 2006;Purcell & Chapuisat, 2012).of life history with the sampling of enough nests have been available for only two species of Ponerinae ants (Gotoh & Ito, 2008;Hart & Tschinkel, 2012). Gotoh and Ito (2008) reported all adults of Brachyponera chinensis emerged once a year, and brood are not present in the nests during the winter.…”

“…Gotoh and Ito (2008) reported all adults of Brachyponera chinensis emerged once a year, and brood are not present in the nests during the winter. Hart and Tschinkel (2012) reported the colonies of Odontomachus brunneus produce brood for 6 months and are broodless for 6 months that includes the winter in north Florida.…”