Orientation ofPolyergus rufescens(Hymenoptera, Formicidae) during slave-making raids

Grasso, Donató A.; Ugolini, Alberto; Visicchio, R.; Moli, F. Le

doi:10.1006/anbe.1997.0569

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…All our findings relating to the use of directional light as compass cue are fully compatible with the use of light compass cues in other Hymenoptera (reviewed in Wehner 1989 andin Wehner et al 1996). The fact that the classic experiment of reflecting the sun with a mirror (Santschi 191 1) mostly failed with the weaver ants is matched by similar experimental results in three additional genera of formicine ants, Formica, Cufuglyphis and Polyergus (Jander 1957;Duelli & Wehner 1973;Wehner 1989;Grasso et al 1997). For these three genera the investigators showed that compass orientation based on the polarized light of blue sky strongly outweighed compass orientation based on light coming directly from the sun.…”

Section: Light Compassmentioning

confidence: 83%

The Light and Magnetic Compass of the Weaver Ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Jander

1998

Ethology

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Some of the foraging of the arboreal Australian weaver ant Oecophylla smarcrgdina takes place on the ground. Odor trails and compass orientation are used to return to the trunk of their nesting tree. Field experiments established directional responses to light and the natural magnetic field. The precision of the light compass orientation is much greater than that of the magnetic compass orientation: the respective average wrapped-around standard deviations (WSD) of directional choices towards home are WSD = 48-and WSD = 105 '.

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Section: Light Compassmentioning

confidence: 83%

The Light and Magnetic Compass of the Weaver Ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Jander

1998

Ethology

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“…Populations of this species are widespread along the northern and central part of the Italian peninsula. Although the main features of its parasitic lifestyle are the raiding behaviour and the dependent colony founding through usurpation , several other aspects of its morphology, biology, ecology, and behaviour can be related to its nature as a social parasite (Hçlldobler and Wilson, 1990;Le Moli et al, 1994;Grasso et al, 1997Grasso et al, , 2005Billen et al, 2001). For instance, its mating behaviour is an example of "Female-calling Syndrome" (Hçlldobler and Bartz, 1985), a strategy in which females typically call for males, do not disperse widely, and remain near a conspecific colony after mating .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical communication in mating behaviour of the slave-making ant Polyergus rufescens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): 3-ethyl-4-methylpentanol as a critical component of the queen sex pheromone

et al. 2008

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The aim of the research reported here was to determine whether 3-ethyl-4-methylpentanol, a minor but crucial component of the sex pheromone of the North American slave-making ant species Polyergus breviceps, was also a component of the sex pheromone of the European congener Polyergus rufescens. Thus, the contents of mandibular glands of P. rufescens virgin queen were extracted and analysed. The main component of the extracts was methyl 6-methylsalicylate and 3-ethyl-4-methylpentanol was identified as one of several minor components. Further analyses showed that the insects produce mainly the (R)-enantiomer of the alcohol. Males responses to various blends of methyl 6-methylsalicylate with the racemate or the pure enantiomers of 3-ethyl-4-methylpentanol were tested in field behavioural bioassays. The data showed that blends of methyl 6-methylsalicylate and 3-ethyl-4-methylpentanol were strongly synergistic, with the most active ratios being biased toward the first component. The addition of other minor components to the binary blend neither increased nor decreased responses by males. Only the (R)-enantiomer of the alcohol was biologically active; its antipode did not inhibit attraction. The results are discussed in terms of the evolution of signals, and are compared with the results previously obtained for the allopatric species Polyergus breviceps.

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“…Field studies have provided much information about the most important aspects of the raiding activity of Polyergus rufescens (DOBRZANSKI & DOBRZANSKA 1978;MORI et al 1990MORI et al , 1991aMORI et al , 1991bLE MOLI et al 1994a, 1994bGRASSO et al 1994GRASSO et al , 1997. Detailed laboratory studies, however, provided us with the means to deconstruct this crucial event to analyse key behavioural patterns that are unlikely to be observable in the field .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Once at the host colony, the column disappears inside the nest and, after a short period of time, emerges with resident brood in their mandibles. Finally, the workers return home following the path used for the outward journey (MORI et al 1991a;LE MOLI et al 1994a, 1994bGRASSO et al 1997).…”

Section: Please Scroll Down For Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

How raiders of the slave-making antPolyergus rufescens(Hymenoptera Formicidae) evaluate a target host nest

Visicchio

Castracani

Mori

et al. 2003

Ethology Ecology & Evolution

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Raiding activity is a crucial task of the slave-making ant Polyergus rufescens, during which colonies of the host species are attacked in order to pillage the resident brood and obtain a slave work force. The features of the host colony influencing the organization of P. rufescens raids were investigated by laboratory experiments which allow the analysis of behavioural patterns unlikely to be observed in the field. In particular, the mechanism of evaluation of the target nest was studied. By providing P. rufescens the possibility to sack different host nests, we found that a greater number of raiders was recruited when a greater amount of brood was present inside the attacked nest. The hypotheses that raiding activity is performed in accordance with the "optimal foraging theory" and that raiders prefer to sack colonies where the residents are more aggressive are discussed.

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Orientation ofPolyergus rufescens(Hymenoptera, Formicidae) during slave-making raids

Cited by 12 publications

References 14 publications

The Light and Magnetic Compass of the Weaver Ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The Light and Magnetic Compass of the Weaver Ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Chemical communication in mating behaviour of the slave-making ant Polyergus rufescens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): 3-ethyl-4-methylpentanol as a critical component of the queen sex pheromone

How raiders of the slave-making antPolyergus rufescens(Hymenoptera Formicidae) evaluate a target host nest

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