Recognition and Aggression of conspecific and heterospecific worker in Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Authors

  • Tiago Georg Pikart Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa
  • Pedro Guilherme Lemes Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa
  • Wagner Calixto de Castro Morais Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa
  • José Cola Zanuncio Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa
  • Terezinha Maria Castro Della Lucia Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v62i1.28-33

Keywords:

behavior, competition, defense, etogram, heterospecifics, leaf-cutting ant

Abstract

Aggressive behavior is important for social insects because it makes possible for the colony to defend itself and the offspring from the action of invasive species. We studied the recognition and aggressiveness of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus (Forel) to co-specific workers from other nest and heterospecific workers of Acromyrmex subterraneus molestans Santschi, Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus (Forel) and Acromyrmex niger (Smith); and queens of their social parasite Acromyrmex ameliae De Souza, Soares and Della Lucia. Workers of other species were placed in contact with those of A. subterraneus subterraneus for three minutes and during this period the behavioral interactions were quantified. The aggressiveness index (AI) for each agonistic encounter was obtained. Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus workers exhibited greater aggressiveness against heterospecific than against conspecific competitors. Aggressiveness is connected to differences in the chemical profiles, which are larger in heterospecifics colonies.

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Published

2015-04-07

How to Cite

Pikart, T. G., Lemes, P. G., Morais, W. C. de C., Zanuncio, J. C., & Della Lucia, T. M. C. (2015). Recognition and Aggression of conspecific and heterospecific worker in Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology, 62(1), 28–33. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v62i1.28-33

Issue

Vol. 62 No. 1 (2015)

Section

Research Article - Ants

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