Chemical predation signals: a possible major influence on the differential predation strategy of ants on termites

Abstract

Chemical pheromones are an important means of communication within social insects, but they can also be easily exploited by predators as cues for locating prey. Ants are the most important predator for termites, ants have evolved a strategy for termites, and termites have their defense strategy for ants. Here, we showed that the ant Odontoponera transvers adopt differential predation strategies towards different species of termites (Coptotermes formosanus, Ancistrotermes dimorphus, and Macrotermes barneyi). The O. transversa actively preys on A. dimorphus and M. barneyi, but passively preys on C. formosanus. As long as there was A. dimorphus or M. barneyi presented, ants O. transversa have no predatory behavior towards C. formosanus. In other words, ants have a much greater predatory preference for A. dimorphus and M. barneyi than for C. formosanus. We provided three hypotheses (nutritional value, predation signals, and defensive capabilities) to explain this predatory difference. A series of field trapping experiments and laboratory behavioral experiments to verify predation signal is the major influence on the differential predation strategy of O. transversa on the three termites. It was demonstrated that ants have a preference for the trail pheromones of termites, which leads to ants making different predatory strategies towards termites.