How to fool a virgin: Artificial dealation triggers oviposition in virgin Lasius niger queens

Jemielity, Stephanie; Gräff, Johannes; Keller, Laurent

doi:10.1007/s00040-006-0875-8

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Although it is possible dealates mated with their brothers at the nest and were inseminated, we believe they lost their wings during collection. Regardless, Jemielity et al (2006) induced postmating behavior, oviposition, in virgin Lasius niger gynes, corroborating Wheeler's (1906) opinion that dealation switches gynes into founding behavior. Tanquary's (1911) experiments were conducted mostly with artificial dealates because of Wheeler's (1906) assertions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Colony founding and social parasitism in Lasius (Acanthomyops)

Raczkowski

Luque

2010

Insect. Soc.

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We investigated colony foundation behavior of three species of the Lasius claviger group, L. latipes, L. interjectus and L. claviger, using field observations and laboratory experiments. Laboratory studies included observing gyne behavior prior to interaction with host colonies (e.g. grouping, overwintering, feeding) and experiments in which gynes were introduced to putative host colonies. Observations of gyne parasitic behavior immediately after mating flights in the field and the discovery of mixed colonies both confirm the parasitic behavior of these species and point toward a wide host species range including two cases of hyperparasitism. L. interjectus and L. latipes enter the host colony immediately after the nuptial flight, while L. claviger may hibernate and enter in the spring. Laboratory experiments showed that L. interjectus gynes prefer to group and suffer lower mortality when in a group, which is consistent with field observations of L. interjectus gynes entering host colonies in large numbers. Details on behavior of L. latipes alpha and beta form gynes are also given.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Colony founding and social parasitism in Lasius (Acanthomyops)

Raczkowski

Luque

2010

Insect. Soc.

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“…Alternative hypotheses, such as the age of the gynes, the resources intake or the necessity of flying cannot be discarded, but seem, however, unlikely due to our experimental procedure and previous observations (see Materials and methods section for details). Some (alated) gynes produced a large amount of eggs indicating that dealation is not necessary to lay eggs as in Lasius niger queens (Jemielity et al, 2006). None of those eggs could reach the pupal stage, however, indicating a developmental rather than a resource issue.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Thelytokous parthenogenesis, male clonality and genetic caste determination in the little fire ant: new evidence and insights from the lab

et al. 2009

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Previous studies indicate that some populations of the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, display an unusual reproduction system polymorphism. Although some populations have a classical haplodiploid reproduction system, in other populations queens are produced by thelytokous parthenogenesis, males are produced by a male clonality system and workers are produced sexually. An atypical genetic caste determination system was also suggested. However, these conclusions were indirectly inferred from genetic studies on field population samples. Here we set up experimental laboratory nests that allow the control of the parental relationships between individuals. The queens heading those nests originated from either putatively clonal or sexual populations. We characterized the male, queen and worker offspring they produced at 12 microsatellite loci. Our results unambiguously confirm the unique reproduction system polymorphism mentioned above and that male clonality is strictly associated with thelytokous parthenogenesis. We also observed direct evidence of the rare production of sexual gynes and arrhenotokous males in clonal populations. Finally, we obtained evidence of a genetic basis for caste determination. The evolutionary significance of the reproduction system polymorphism and genetic caste determination as well as future research opportunities are discussed.

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“…Dealation occurs in at least eight orders of insects (Myles, 1988). In D. aneu-rae, detached wings are not eaten or otherwise utilized, but dealation may allow muscle histolysis and digestion, as in crickets (Tanaka, 1994) and ants (Davis, Jones & Farmer, 1989), and may also trigger oviposition (Jemielity, Gräff & Keller, 2006).…”

Section: Dealation In Foundress Femalesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural history and behaviour ofDunatothrips aneurae Mound (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), a phyllode-gluing thrips with facultative pleometrosis

Gilbert

Simpson

2013

Biol J Linn Soc Lond

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Thrips of the genus Dunatothrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) construct domiciles by tying phyllodes of Australian Acacia trees together with silk-like glue. Females often co-found domiciles (pleometrosis), an apparently cooperative behaviour that potentially provides insights into social evolution. However, little is known about their basic natural history, limiting the scope for testable predictions. Here, we address this crucial prerequisite step by investigating some key outstanding questions in the most common species, D. aneurae, on its host, Acacia aneura. We detail distribution in space and time, mating, dispersal, domicile building and defence. Dunatothrips aneurae was distributed in loosely reproductively synchronized patches, and tended to prefer east-facing, terminal phyllodes on thin-phyllode A. aneura varieties. Mature domiciles contained middens, concentrated areas of waste, suggesting active maintenance of domiciles and the potential for the division of labour. We observed inbreeding and outbreeding. Dunatothrips aneurae males engaged in short, truncated matings with sisters before dispersing locally, mating with females in nearby immature domiciles; longer distance dispersal, although it must happen, is still undocumented. Males and females mated multiply. Lone females required male presence to initiate domiciles, constructed them without male help and lost wings on nesting by abscission. Silk production occurred well before egg laying. Aggression or defence appeared to be entirely absent. Taken together, these observations suggest that research into co-founding behaviour should focus on: (1) local crowding; (2) lack of aggression; and (3) potential division of labour with respect to egg production, silk production and domicile maintenance. These results should provide a springboard for questions on the potential evolution of cooperation in this species.

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How to fool a virgin: Artificial dealation triggers oviposition in virgin Lasius niger queens

Cited by 7 publications

References 10 publications

Colony founding and social parasitism in Lasius (Acanthomyops)

Colony founding and social parasitism in Lasius (Acanthomyops)

Thelytokous parthenogenesis, male clonality and genetic caste determination in the little fire ant: new evidence and insights from the lab

Natural history and behaviour ofDunatothrips aneurae Mound (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), a phyllode-gluing thrips with facultative pleometrosis

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