The Seasonal Life Cycle of the Argentine Ant, Iridomyrmex humilis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in Southern California

Diet-Related Modification of Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profiles of the Argentine Ant, Linepithema humile, Diminishes Intercolony Aggression

“…Diet sharing through cooperative use of locally abundant food sources may provide sufficient levels of critical hydrocarbons to alter nestmate recognition and promote fusion of colonies. Argentine ants, like other invasive ants, are generalist feeders (Newell and Barber, 1913;Markin, 1970), tending homoptera and scavenging living and dead arthropods. In addition, shared cues originating from nesting material may diminish intercolony aggression.…”

RELATEDNESS IN THE POLYGYNOUS ANTMYRMECIA PILOSULA

“…However, although the importance of relatedness in the evolution of polygyny has been referred to by many authors (Hamilton, 1964(Hamilton, , 1972Wilson, 1966Wilson, , 1971Wilson, , 1974Trivers and Hare, 1976;Crozier, 1979), and although observations do suggest that the queens adopted are most often daughters of the colony they join (Markin, 1970;Petersen and Buschinger, 1971;Hamilton, 1972;Janzen, 1973;Elmes, 1973Elmes, , 1974 and hence related to the colony queens, no study has yet been attempted to determine experimentally the actual degree of kinship of queens in polygynous colonies. Wilson (1971) regards such data as of more importance than knowledge of ecological factors favoring polygyny.…”

Bait Preference by the Argentine Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Haleakala National Park, Hawaii

“…In the spring, reproduction increases, signaled by the appearance of the 1st large batch of worker brood. This brood generally precedes and helps provide for the intense sexual brood production that follows (Markin 1970b). Although males can be found in small numbers yearround, these sexual forms are most abundant from late March to September.…”

“…Although males can be found in small numbers yearround, these sexual forms are most abundant from late March to September. The production of new queens usually occurs shortly after heavy male production is under way (Markin 1970b), but this caste is difficult to observe in the field and therefore is a less reliable indicator of annual reproductive cycle status. After fall, sexual production drops off sharply, as does worker production, and nest size decreases during the winter months.…”

“…Economically, much attention has been directed at the Argentine ant because of its homopteran-tending behavior, which prevents effective biocontrol of aphids and scale insects and makes the ant an important agricultural pest (Markin 1968). However, the ant's ability to form large, dense unicolonies and its aggressive behavior have also made it an ecological menace.…”