Food recruitment strategies of the ants Myrmica sabuleti and Myrmica ruginodis

2014

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This paper summarizes our findings on the eye morphology, visual perception, learning abilities, navigation system and recruitment strategy of three Myrmica species, pointing out the agreement between each species' morphological, physiological and behavioral characters as well as the accordance between these characters and each species' environmental preferences. We also draw biological generalities and report other similar studies. Myrmica sabuleti workers have small eyes, perceive the dimension, number of basic elements and orientation of a visual cue but do not distinguish shapes from one another. They see the colors, perceive UV light and the perspective, and adapt their vision to the light intensity. They learn odors better than visual cues and essentially use odors to navigate. Myrmica ruginodis workers have large eyes, distinguish shapes, small see-through forms as well as patterns of luminous points located above them. They have no olfactory memory but a very long lasting visual one. They exclusively use visual cues located above them while travelling, relying on odors only when they no longer see. Myrmica rubra workers have eyes of middle size and distinguish filled shapes but not hollow forms. Their olfactory and visual conditioning lead to equivalent learning in the course of time and they use all available olfactory and visual elements for navigating.

“…Group recruitment thus occurs (Cammaerts-Tricot 1974a, b;Cammaerts 1978). Slight differences exist between the species (Cammaerts & Cammaerts 1980; Fig. 1G, last line).…”

Section: Recruitment Strategymentioning

confidence: 96%

Comparative outlook over physiological and ecological characteristics of three closely-related Myrmica species

2014

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“…A piece of dead cockroach was set under one of the two cues located on the experimental apparatus ( Figs 1B, D). Since the training lasted 6 + 3 = 9 days, the apparatus were relocated every day, once a day, during the training phases to avoid spatial learning by the ants (Cammaerts 2004b) and to prevent the establishment of a trail between the apparatus (provided with food) and the nest (Cammaerts & Cammaerts 1980). The meat food was renewed if necessary while relocating the apparatus.…”

Section: Experimental Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

The visual perception of the ant Myrmica ruginodis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

2012

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Myrmica ruginodis workers are able to distinguish black or white circles from black or white squares, black or white ellipses from black or white rectangles as well as hollow circles or ellipses from hollow squares or rectangles. They can also distinguish differently oriented elements as well as objects containing a various number of elements. These workers are also able to perceive and discriminate transparent cues on a black background and even small luminous spots on a black ceiling. Such visual abilities are in agreement with the species' eye morphology and system of navigation: the eyes are rather large with a well-developed posterio-dorsal part, and the foragers rely exclusively on cues located above them, neglecting odorous elements as long as visual perception is possible. Probably, they might use cues located in the canopy and the sky to travel in certain circumstances.

“…Myrmica sabuleti Meinert, 1861 possesses a shortlasting trail pheromone and use group recruitment system for collecting food (Cammaerts & Cammaerts 1980). But, obviously, foragers of this species also use visual elements present around them for finding their way (Cammaerts, personal observation).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visual discrimination of cues differing as for their number of elements, their shape or their orientation, by the ant Myrmica sabuleti

2008

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Using operant conditioning as a method, we study if Myrmica sabuleti workers can discriminate figures made of different numbers of the same element, different filled shapes or hollow forms and elements differently oriented. The ants effectively discriminate figures containing different numbers of the same element but without counting the elements: their distinguishing is based on the global aspect (dimensions, area) of the figures. They distinguish filled shapes as well as hollow forms when these look different if seen with convexity. For instance, they differentiate well between concave filled shapes or concave hollow forms. They see distinctly an element and the same one rotated if this element, seen with convexity, looks different after its rotation. They perceive until a 30• rotation of a vertical segment and until a 15• rotation of a horizontal segment. In conclusion, M. sabuleti workers are sensitive to the number of elements, dimension, shape, form and orientation of visual cues with the restriction that they probably see them with convexity.