Colony composition and queen behavior in polygynous colonies of the oriental ponerine antOdontomachus rixosus (Hymenoptera Formicidae)

Ito, Fuminori; Norma‐Rashid, Y.; Idris, Azarae Hj

doi:10.1007/bf01253958

Cited by 19 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Our study confirms previous observations on social structure in Odontomachus ants, which report the occurrence of multiple queens within colonies (Ledoux, 1952;Colombel, 1972;Peeters, 1987;Medeiros et al, 1992;Ito et al, 1996). So far we are not certain whether polygyny in this species results from groups of cofounding queens (pleometrosis) or from adoption of newly mated queens by established colonies (secondary polygyny).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…Indeed Colombel (1972) reported that small colonies of O. troglodytes were always monogynous whereas large colonies (*250 workers) were polygynous due to adoption of newly mated queens by mature colonies. Although Ito et al (1996) found no correlation between the number of queens and workers in colonies of O. rixosus, the fact that new colonies are always founded independently by solitary queens and that numerous queens are found in mature colonies indicate that functional polygyny in this species results from queen adoption. In the case of O. rixosus whose colonies may contain [70 inseminated queens, lack of correlation between queen and worker numbers may stem from recent addition of young queens that might not have yet produced workers, or that might have left the colony with workers to found a new one by budding (see Peeters and Ito, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

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Nesting patterns, ecological correlates of polygyny and social organization in the neotropical arboreal ant Odontomachus hastatus (Formicidae, Ponerinae)

2010

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Queen number varies in the population of O. hastatus in SE Brazil. Here, we evaluate how nesting ecology and colony structure are associated in this species, and investigate how reproduction is shared among nestmate queens. Queen number per colony is positively correlated with nesting space (root cluster of epiphytic bromeliads), and larger nest sites host larger ant colonies. Plant samplings revealed that suitable nest sites are limited and that nesting space at ant-occupied bromeliads differs in size and height from the general bromeliad community. Dissections revealed that queens in polygynous colonies are inseminated, have developed ovaries, and produce eggs. Behavioral observations showed that reproduction in polygynous colonies is mediated by queen-queen agonistic interactions that include egg cannibalism. Dominant queens usually produced more eggs. Field observations indicate that colonies can be initiated through haplometrosis. Polygyny in O. hastatus may result either from groups of cofounding queens (pleometrosis) or from adoption of newly mated queens by established colonies (secondary polygyny). Clumping of bromeliads increases nest space and probably adds stability through a strong root system, which may promote microhabitat selection by queens and favor pleometrosis. Rainstorms that frequently knock down bromeliads can be a source of colony break-up and may promote polygyny. Bromeliads are limited nest sites and may represent a risk for young queens leaving a suitable nest, thus favoring secondary polygyny. Although proximate mechanisms mediating queen number are poorly understood, this study suggests that heterogeneous microhabitat conditions probably contribute to the coexistence of variable forms of social structure in O. hastatus.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

Nesting patterns, ecological correlates of polygyny and social organization in the neotropical arboreal ant Odontomachus hastatus (Formicidae, Ponerinae)

2010

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“…Winged queens have been reported in all species studied (e.g. Ito et al, 1996) except O. coquereli from Madagascar where only wingless reproductives have been found (Brown, 1976;Wheeler, 1910). Mated Odontomachus workers have never been found, although they can lay unfertilized eggs (van Walsum et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Permanent loss of wings in queens of the ant Odontomachus coquereli from Madagascar

2007

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Winged queens are the most common reproductives in ants. They are morphologically specialized for independent colony foundation, with wings for longrange dispersal and metabolic reserves to raise the first brood. However independent foundation can sometimes be selected against and replaced by fission, featuring short-range dispersal on the ground and reproductives that are dependent on the wingless workers for all nonreproductive tasks. We investigated the evolutionary consequences of this transition on the morphology of the reproductives by collecting 30 colonies of Odontomachus coquereli from Madagascar, the only species in the genus where winged queens have never been found. Data about colony demography, morphometry, allometry and ovarian dissections showed that the winged queen caste has been replaced by a wingless reproductive caste with distinct body proportions relative to the workers or to congeneric winged queens. The 17 reproductives that we measured exhibited little size variability. A single wingless reproductive was found in each colony, corresponding to ergatoids in literature. Several facts suggest that colonies reproduce by fission, notably the relatively constant colony size (19AE11 workers). The developmental origins of wingless reproductive phenotypes need investigation; little genetic change may be involved, as seen when Odontomachus larvae are parasitized by nematodes. The sole function of wingless reproductives in O. coquereli is reproduction, and they contrast with multi-purpose wingless reproductives found in other ants, where numerous intermorphs occur in each colony and contribute to sterile tasks.

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“…In contrast to primary polygyny, secondary polygyny maintains the reproductive function of all queens. Nevertheless, fecundity often varies among queens in polygynous species (Ross, 1988;Stille et al, 1991;Bourke and Franks, 1995;Ito et al, 1996). In extreme cases a single mated female lays eggs (functional monogyny) while others are sterile (Heinze and Smith, 1990;Ito, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution, size and density of nests of Myrmicaria opaciventris Emery (Formicidae, Myrmicinae)

Kenné

Déjean²

1999

Insectes Sociaux

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We recorded over the course of one year the location of nests of Myrmicaria opaciventris on five sites in the region surrounding Yaoundé (Cameroon). On these sites, the colonies are polydomous and polygynous. The size of the largest colony, which was made up of 27 nests, was evaluated at 216,575 ± 24,750 individuals of which 147,230 ± 15,336 were workers. The nests are interconnected by trails that the workers dig during the rainy season. They consist of trenches that are slowly closed to form tunnels. Thanks to these tunnels, the workers are sheltered from their predators when going from one nest to another. They also have easy access to food sources far from the nests. We noted a seasonal variation in the location of the nests. It consists of a kind of budding. Depending on the case, the initial nest might survive or end up by being abandoned during the main rainy season or early in the dry season. The spatial distribution of the nests in the field is, in general, random and the density is lower during the dry season (from 6.2 to 26.4 nests/ha) than during the rainy season (from 12.1 to 50 nests/ha).

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Colony composition and queen behavior in polygynous colonies of the oriental ponerine antOdontomachus rixosus (Hymenoptera Formicidae)

Cited by 19 publications

References 24 publications

Nesting patterns, ecological correlates of polygyny and social organization in the neotropical arboreal ant Odontomachus hastatus (Formicidae, Ponerinae)

Nesting patterns, ecological correlates of polygyny and social organization in the neotropical arboreal ant Odontomachus hastatus (Formicidae, Ponerinae)

Permanent loss of wings in queens of the ant Odontomachus coquereli from Madagascar

Spatial distribution, size and density of nests of Myrmicaria opaciventris Emery (Formicidae, Myrmicinae)

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