Temperature Modifications of the Nest of Pogonomyrmex montanus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Density dependence and colony growth in the ant speciesFormica neorufibarbis

“…Colonies of many species use a variety of structures such as nest rocks and nest mounds to control temperature and moisture within colonies (Brian & Brian 1951; Coenen‐Stass et al . 1980; MacKay & MacKay 1985; Horstmann & Schmid 1986; Rosengren et al . 1986; Holldobler & Wilson 1990; Cole 1994) .…”

The Hot-Blooded Insects

“…All of the detailed studies (Andrews, 1927;Wellenstein, Fig. Zahn, 1958;Steiner, 1924Steiner, , 1926Steiner, , 1929Kato, 1939;Raignier, 1948;Kneitz, 1964Kneitz, , 1970Scherba, 1962;Heimann, 1963;Coenen-Stass, Schaarschmidt, and Lamprecht, 1980;Horstmann and Schmid, 1986;Rosengren et aI., 1987;Etterschank, 1971;MacKay and MacKay, 1985) confirm that mound structures provide higher and often more stable temperatures than the adjacent soil or surrounding air. The idea has now been tested by a long line of European, American, and Japanese investigators.…”

Size matters: mole (Talpa europaea) hills and nest‐site selection of the ant Formica exsecta

“…A series of authors have revealed that sun exposure is a driver of nest location and influences dispersion pattern of ants in general (Brian 1956;Pontin 1960;Sudd et al 1977;Elmes and Wardlaw 1982). Classical studies have also shown that (1) insolation has a direct impact on nest-site temperature and nest warming, and (2) nest mounds of wood ants function as solaria which can benefit brood development (Andrews 1927;Brian and Brian 1951;MacKay and MacKay 1985;Rosengren et al 1987;New 2000). Because of their general thermophily and perhaps limited (or lacking) ability to enhance the inner nest temperature by metabolic heat production (Seifert 2000), the F. exsecta ants seek sun-exposed nest sites (see also Chudzicka 1982).…”