Effect of mound size on intranest thermoregulation in the red wood antsFormicarufa and F. polyctena (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Abstract

Introduction Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) are poikilotherms arthropods depending on the environmental temperature regime for their survivals (Wilson, 1971). The brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae) of ant colonies arekept and tended by nursing ants inside the nests where certain temperature and humidity conditions are provided and maintained for growth and development (Jones and Oldroyd, 2007). Most of the nests of many ant species are found either underground or in rotten wood (i.e. members of the genera Myrmica Latreille, Tetramorium Mayr, Temnothorax Mayr, Camponotus Mayr, some Formica Linnaeus species), but somenests are found in mounds made of soil, although less often [Lasiusniger (Linnaeus, 1758), Lasius flavus Fabricius, 1781] (Dlussky, 1980). Whatever the type of nest built, all ants need to provide optimal intranest microconditions for their survival; this is best achieved by red wood ants (Formica rufa group), the dominant inhabitants of temperate forests, by exhibiting a distinctive feature of autonomous heat regulation in their nests (

Re-Inventories at Two Study Sites in the Oberpfalz (Bavaria, Germany): Increase in RWA Nests, Herb Biodiversity and Dead Wood in Sustainably Managed Forests

“…The ≈9% increase in the total number of small nests (ND < 0.5 m; Table 1), the survival of more than ≈50% of start-ups and short nests since the last inventories, and the positive growth of nest size from start-ups and short nests to larger nests (n actR ) are considered to indicate favorable settlement conditions due to active tectonics and confirm that RWA nests are bioindicators of such tectonic structures [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]30,31]. In addition, the long persistence of large nests is suggested to indicate that the underlying fault structure and degassing over time are stable, providing a suitable location for RWA, e.g., the continuous, moderately warm granites [90] support the survival of small nests during winter in the study areas [14,91] and their growth into larger nests [14]. This is also consistent with evidence from the tectonically active WEVF [30].…”

Red Wood Ants prefer mature Pine Forests in Variscan Granite Environments (Formica rufa-group)

“…Previous findings report that RWA can actively thermoregulate the nest due to accurate perception of temperature and evolution of temperature preferences. Besides insolation and heat exchange with air and soil, as well as endogenous heat generated by the ant colony, ants use metabolic heat as an additional source to maintain thermal homeostasis in the nest (Kadochová & Frouz 2014; Stukalyuk et al 2020). Findings of a recent study by Stukalyuk et al (2020) showed that heat loss of the nest depends on its size, the volume/nests ratio, and the condition and material of the cover layer.…”

“…Besides insolation and heat exchange with air and soil, as well as endogenous heat generated by the ant colony, ants use metabolic heat as an additional source to maintain thermal homeostasis in the nest (Kadochová & Frouz 2014; Stukalyuk et al 2020). Findings of a recent study by Stukalyuk et al (2020) showed that heat loss of the nest depends on its size, the volume/nests ratio, and the condition and material of the cover layer. Furthermore, insolation does not cause the inner parts of the nests to heat up more than the temperature of the ground at the same depth.…”

“…Furthermore, insolation does not cause the inner parts of the nests to heat up more than the temperature of the ground at the same depth. Therefore, F. polyctena nests with a diameter < 0.5 m are not capable of heating and are not autonomous at air temperatures up to +18 °C, nests diameters of 0.7 m can function normally at air temperature above +2 °C, nests with a nest diameter of > 0.8 m are able to maintain a constant optimum temperature in the nest (Stukalyuk et al 2020). However, the question why start-up and short nests survive despite missing auto-thermoregulation in the winter, and further develop into tall nests and finally into polydomous colonies, is still unresolved.…”

Changes in the Structure of Nest Complexes of the Red Wood Ants Formica rufa and F. polyctena (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Urban Forests

“…This is confirmed by data from Dlussky, who found that within a 50 km radius of Moscow (Russia), up to 95 % of red wood ant anthills were damaged to some degree (Dlussky, 1967). On the other hand, no such destruction was observed within the boundaries of Kyiv (Ukraine) and most anthills were intact (Stukalyuk et al, 2021), so it cannot be argued that anthill destruction is widespread in urbanised forests. Red wood ants are particularly vulnerable because their nests are clearly visible and foraging trails run along the soil surface, so many ants die when trampled in recreational areas (Zakharov, 1991(Zakharov, , 2015.…”