Effect of Starvation on the Feeding Activity Toward Sugary Food in the Ant Tapinoma nigerrimum (Nylander, 1856)

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effect of starvation on the feeding behavior of the ant Tapinoma nigerrimum. In particular, we tested the response of ants that had experienced different levels of starvation, toward sucrose solutions of increasing concentration. As expected, starved ants promptly reacted to the sugary food sources with a higher rate of acceptance as compared to satiated ones. Acceptance increased both with sugar concentration and the length of the starvation period. However, a consistent fraction of the starved ants did not feed on the solutions, suggesting that starvation had different effects on different individuals, even though they all had food ad libitum before the beginning of the tests, had comparable body sizes, and were collected from the same trail. The different acceptance of sugary solutions may be, therefore, merely because ants fed on the experimental food at different times. Interestingly, in all the experimental groups, ants appeared to satiate quickly, irrespective of the solution tested and fasting duration. This would suggest that the rate of ingestion was independent of these factors, a result partially at odds with previous studies. This study is one of the few ones dealing with the behavioral response of an ant species to a famine event.

Effects of starvation on the fighting ability of invasive and autochthonous ants

“…2011a; Frizzi et al . 2019). Finally, it should be pointed out that the T. nigerrimum complex has been recently subdivided into four species having different features about the colony structure and nest arrangement (Centanni et al .…”

“…All three species are synanthropic and are common in urban habitats where they share the same set of resources (Frizzi et al . 2019; Reyes‐López & Carpintero 2014). Lasius neglectus and L. humile probably interact in some parts of their range in Europe (Seifert 2000; Ugelvig et al .…”

“…Prolonged fasting significantly affects the spatial organization of Lasius niger within the nest, leading workers to exit the nest more quickly and in larger numbers to forage (Mailleux et al 2009(Mailleux et al , 2011a. Starved Camponotus mus workers feed on a resource for a longer time and fill the crop faster than fed individuals (Josens & Roces 2000), whereas starved and satiated workers belonging to the Tapinoma nigerrimum complex spend a comparable time feeding on sugary solutions (Frizzi et al 2019). Similarly, starvation seems not to affect the ability of the workers of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, to find food resources (McGrannachan & Lester 2012).…”

“…Tapinoma nigerrimum is common in the Italian peninsula, but it may present invasive behavioral traits in Northern Europe (Dekoninck et al 2015). All three species are synanthropic and are common in urban habitats where they share the same set of resources (Frizzi et al 2019;Reyes-L opez & Carpintero 2014). Lasius neglectus and L. humile probably interact in some parts of their range in Europe (Seifert 2000;Ugelvig et al 2008;Tartally et al 2016).…”

“…Starved Camponotus mus workers feed on a resource for a longer time and fill the crop faster than fed individuals (Josens & Roces 2000), whereas starved and satiated workers belonging to the Tapinoma nigerrimum complex spend a comparable time feeding on sugary solutions (Frizzi et al . 2019). Similarly, starvation seems not to affect the ability of the workers of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile , to find food resources (McGrannachan & Lester 2012).…”