Aggression, cooperation, and relatedness among colonies of the invasive ant, Monomorium pharaonis, originating from different areas of the world

Abstract

The cooperation and aggression between five laboratory colonies of Monomorium pharaonis were compared using an aggressiveness test and pupa-carrying test in laboratory arenas. The colonies were derived from field collections in different parts of Europe and USA. Generally, inter-colony aggressiveness was low and acceptance of pupae from other colonies was high. Workers from one colony (Lužiny, CZ), however, frequently displayed aggressive behavior when paired with workers from other colonies, and the Lužiny pupae were avoided by workers of other colonies in pupa-carrying tests. Behavioral tests were only partly consistent with the phylogenetic relatedness of ants because the Wisconsin colony (USA) grouped with the Lužiny colony (and not with the other three colonies) in the phylogenetic analysis but grouped with the other three colonies in the behavioral tests.

When invasive ants meet: effects of outbreeding on queen performance in the tramp ant Cardiocondyla itsukii

“…This opens a new avenue for empirical research into the consequences of multiple introductions of invasive ants. Previous studies have documented how the colonization of new areas by colonies originating from different source populations leads to the establishment of aggressively defended borders between different supercolonies (e.g., Thomas et al ., , ; Frouz et al ., ; Mothapo & Wossler, ), but the frequency of crossbreeding between sexuals from different supercolonies and its consequences have rarely been investigated (but see Sunamura et al ., ). Gene flow between colonies introduced from multiple geographical sources might help invasive species to overcome the genetic bottlenecks resulting from the accidental introduction of only few individuals into new areas (Suarez & Tsutsui, ).…”