Comparison of reproductive strategies and raiding behaviour in facultative and obligatory slave-making ants: the case of Formica sanguinea and Polyergus rufescens

Mori, Alessandra; Grasso, Donató A.; Visicchio, R.; Moli, F. Le

doi:10.1007/pl00001782

Cited by 45 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…On one hand, the submissive, weakly competitive F. cunicularia should be less restrictively treated by the territorial F. exsecta than the more competitive F. rufibarbis. On the other hand, colonies of the aggressive F. rufibarbis (see Mori et al 2001) should be much less prone to being destroyed by F. sanguinea, and they should also be more re sistant to being taken over by young F. exsecta queens than colonies of the submissive F. cunicularia. So, one could expect that these differences in behaviour might be reflected in differences in the distribution of the two subordinate species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential impact of two dominant Formica ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) on subordinates in temperate Europe

Trigos-Peral

Markó

Babik

et al. 2016

JHR

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Competition is one of the basic mechanisms shaping ant assemblages. Dominant territorial species are known to restrictively influence the traits of subordinates in various ways. However, there could be diffe rences in the effects of dominants due to differences in their colony structure, lifestyle and also behaviour. We tested this hypothesis in natural circumstances in an area where a Formica exsecta Nyl. supercolony neighbours a strong population of the European slavemaker F. sanguinea Latr. For the purpose of our study three different sites were selected: one dominated by F. exsecta, a neighbouring site dominated by F. sanguinea, and a third site where both species cooccurred. We analyzed the structure of subordinate ant communities based on nest counts, and by recording the activity of ants at baits. Based on our find ings the structure of ant communities differed significantly among the three sites. The F. exsecta site was characterized by the lowest nest density of subordinates, especially in the case of aggressive species as Lasius platythorax Seifert. At baits even the simple presence of the dominant limited the abundance and occur rence of subordinates. In contrast, no such negative effect could be revealed at the F. sanguinea site. The community of the mixed site showed intermediate features in many respects. Generally, the supercolonial

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential impact of two dominant Formica ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) on subordinates in temperate Europe

Trigos-Peral

Markó

Babik

et al. 2016

JHR

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“…Polyergus rufescens is a specialized slave-maker that presents several adaptations to this habit. For example, the sabre-shaped mandibles of both workers and queens are not suitable to perform the normal domestic tasks of free-living species but are extremely powerful and effective when fighting with residents occurs during host nest invasion (Mori and Le Moli, 1988;Grasso et al, 1992;Mori et al, 2001). The parasite 'route' may involve the modification of the chemical strategies adopted by these species so that the original function of glandular sources is For example, usurper queens of Polyergus species are equipped with a hypertrophied Dufour's gland, the source of an appeasement allomone that allows the ants to cope with the violent attacks by resident workers Mori et al, 2000Mori et al, , 2001Billen et al, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mandible associated glands in queens of the slave-making ant Polyergus rufescens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

et al. 2004

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A first description of the structural organization of two exocrine glands associated with the mandibles of queens of the obligatory slave-making ant Polyergus rufescens is reported. The mandibular gland consists of clustered bicellular secretory units connected by means of cuticular ducts to a big reservoir. The reservoir continues in a duct that opens proximally on the mandible cuticle. Intramandibular glands are isolated bicellular secretory units connected to the external pores through a cuticular duct. No reservoir has been observed. In both cases the secretory cells belong to the 3 rd class. Functional aspects of the investigated glands are discussed taking also into account for the parasitic habit of this slave-making species.

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“…In the context of interspecific slavery in ants, the reciprocal adaptations of host and parasite species may involve different aspects of their biology, among which the founding stage (by host colony usurpation) and the slave raids have a crucial importance Brandt et al 2005). In both cases, amazing coadaptive responses by hosts and parasites have been described at different levels (see, for example, Billen et al 2001;Lenoir et al 2001;Mori et al 2001;Visicchio et al 2001;Foitzik et al 2003;D'Ettorre et al 2004). Concerning the slave raids, the attacks can be conducted several times per year and have an extremely destructive effect (Hö lldobler & Wilson 1990;Mori et al 1991;Le Moli et al 1994;.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The defensive behaviour of twoFormicaslave‐ant species: coevolutive implications with their parasitePolyergus rufescens(Hymenoptera, Formicidae)†

Tamarri

Castracani

Grasso

et al. 2009

Italian Journal of Zoology

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The cooperative defence in ant societies is a suitable system that can keep the integrity of the colonies from threats represented by competitors, predators and parasites. This is due to the presence of a well-organized alarm communication system that induces defensive behaviours. Alarm reaction of Formica cunicularia and F. rufibarbis ant species was investigated by means of laboratory tests presenting different kinds of threatening stimuli (ants from alien colonies, homospecific and heterospecific) to colony fragments. Results show that both species react to a potential threat to the colony with an aggressive alarm instead of a panic alarm, characterized by a prompt exit of workers from the nest, attraction towards the stimulus and aggressive behaviours. Moreover they seem to feature the phenomenon of the 'Enemy Specification' towards their obligate parasite Polyergus rufescens. This could be considered as a result of a reciprocal adaptation between host and parasite. Furthermore, the comparison between the alarm reaction of the two studied species shows that F. rufibarbis seems to be more aggressive than F. cunicularia towards the parasite; this result could add a further clarification about the preference of the parasite towards F. cunicularia as host species.

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Comparison of reproductive strategies and raiding behaviour in facultative and obligatory slave-making ants: the case of Formica sanguinea and Polyergus rufescens

Cited by 45 publications

References 66 publications

Differential impact of two dominant Formica ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) on subordinates in temperate Europe

Differential impact of two dominant Formica ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) on subordinates in temperate Europe

Mandible associated glands in queens of the slave-making ant Polyergus rufescens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

The defensive behaviour of twoFormicaslave‐ant species: coevolutive implications with their parasitePolyergus rufescens(Hymenoptera, Formicidae)†

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