Studies on army ants in Panama.

Schneirla, T. C.

doi:10.1037/h0071685

Cited by 60 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This allowed a closer focus on interesting parts of the foraging area, e. g. parts with high ant abundance or along colony borders. width of 20 cm, the terminal group of swarm raids, the second known form of mass raiding, can reach a diameter of 20 m. For more details on the raiding forms see e. g. Schneirla (1933;1934;1938). The raiding types are apparently closely linked to the prey taken.…”

Section: Ant Baitingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foraging of a hypogaeic army ant: a long neglected majority

et al. 2002

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Army ants have been studied thoroughly for more than a century. The conduction of column and swarm mass raids, featured by epigaeicly active species, is believed to be a central characteristic of army ant behavior. Most army ant species, however, lead a hypogaeic life. Due to the difficulties to observe them, nothing is known about their hypogaeic behavior in the field. Using palm oil baits, trail excavations, and laboratory observations, the hypogaeic foraging of Dorylus (Dichthadia) laevigatus was observed in Malaysia. D. laevigatus was found to construct stable hypogaeic trunk trail systems providing quick and easy access to all parts of its foraging area. Small column raids were conducted throughout the ground stratum and above the ground surface. These raids were caste specific, with the smallest workers predominantly following existing cracks and tunnels in the soil. In case of food location, larger workers were recruited from nearby trunk trails. Exploratory trails leading to prey had to be widened before larger workers could gain access and help to process the food. Bulky food sources such as baits or termite mounds could be exploited over several weeks to months. Besides raiding in columns, D. laevigatus came occasionally to the ground surface at night to conduct swarm raids. This combination of swarm and column raids with the use of trunk trails has never been demonstrated for a classical army ant species. The omnipresence of D. laevigatus within its foraging area stands in sharp contrast to epigaeicly active species, characterized by a very localized and temporary presence at foraging sites. D. laevigatus stayed in the same foraging area for several weeks to months. Having a broad diet and the ability to exploit bulky food sources over long periods of time, D. laevigatus seems to follow a sustainable use of the soil fauna. Summing up these particularities demonstrates a remarkable divergence of the hypogaeic foraging of D. laevigatus from that of epigaeicly foraging army ant species.

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Section: Ant Baitingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foraging of a hypogaeic army ant: a long neglected majority

et al. 2002

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“…However, some foraging continues during the SP among ecitonines and nomadic habits were not observed for C. biroi. Apropos of Eciton species, Schneirla (1933Schneirla ( , 1938Schneirla ( , 1945Schneirla ( , 1971) developed the "brood stimulation" hypothesis to explain the proximate causes of the cycle and the synchronisation between a new phase and the development stage of the brood. He assumed that the onset of each NP was released by the social stimulation following the emergence of the callow workers.…”

Section: Number Of Larval Instarsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reproductive cycle of thelytokous colonies of Cerapachys biroi Forel (Formicidae, Cerapachyinae)

Ravary¹,

Jaisson²

2002

Insectes Sociaux

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The reproductive cycle of thelytokous colonies of Cerapachys biroi was investigated in laboratory conditions. It included several stages, the duration of which was assessed by direct observation on experimental nests set up by fission of natural, queenless, colonies. The results show that two phases of adult activity alternated while cohorts of brood developed synchronously. During the statary phase, virgin workers laid diploid eggs simultaneously but no foraging activity was observed until the following phase which began after the callow workers of the previous brood cohort emerged and the eggs hatched. During this foraging phase, workers explored intensively for food while larvae matured synchronously. Biometrical measures allowed to determine that three larval instars occurred in this species. While larvae started pupation, workers stopped to forage and the next statary phase took place, during which a new cohort of eggs was laid and pupae matured. This repeated phasic reproductive cycle where adult activity and development of the brood are synchronised reminds that of true army ants (subfamily Ecitoninae), which brings new arguments in favour of a filiation between both groups.

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“…[7], L pruinosus [8], Eciton spp. [9], Trinervitermes geminatus [10], Pogonomyrmex badius [11], Leptogenys spp. [12]).…”

Section: Self-organized Shortcuts In the Argentine Antmentioning

confidence: 99%