Nest composition and worker relatedness in three slave-making ants of the genus Rossomyrmex Arnoldi and their Proformica Ruzsky hosts (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Tinaut A., Ruano F., Sanllorente O., Fernández-Zambrano A., KARAMAN C., Kaz Y.

Insect Science, cilt.17, sa.4, ss.361-368, 2010 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 17 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2010
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2009.01303.x
  • Dergi Adı: Insect Science
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.361-368
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Nest architecture, Nest composition, Proformica, Relatedness, Rossomyrmex, Slave-making ants
  • Trakya Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

In this paper, we analyze and compare nest composition and architecture as well as worker relatedness in three related species of slave-making ants: Rossomyrmex anatolicus, R. minuchae, and R. quandratinodum. Colony structure within nests is an important trait in ants, especially in the case of mixed societies, when host and parasite coexist in the same nest. Data for their respective free-living hosts, Proformica korbi, P. longiseta and P. sp., are also provided. For our study, we integrated a meticulous excavation procedure with a genetic method. We conclude that the average number of parasites, as well as of slaves, is species-specific, whereas nest depth depends on the nest architecture of the host. The genus Rossomyrmex seems to be monogynous and monandrous, whereas Proformica shows differences in the number of queens and mating frequency. R. quandratinodum shows different traits in nest composition (host/parasite ratio: P/R) and architecture. The difference in traits may account for some differences in parasitism: raid process or avoidance of parasitism. © 2010 The Authors Journal compilation © Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.