Notes on biology of Brazilian populations of ants of the Pachycondyla foetida species complex (Formicidae: Ponerinae)

Sociobiology

Marcio Luiz De Oliveira³  Jacques Hubert Charles Delabie¹  Itanna Oliveira Fernandes² 

[1] Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau – CEPEC. Laboratório de Mirmecologia, UESC/CEPLAC. Rod. Ilhéus/Itabuna, 45600-000, Cx. Postal 7. Ilhéus – BA. Brazil. Fone/Fax: [phone];Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia - INPA;Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia – PPGENT. Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA. Av. André Araujo, 2936. Petrópolis, 69011-970, Cx. Postal 478. Manaus – AM. Brazil. Fone/Fax: [phone]

关键词: males;    cannibalism;    castes;    secondary monogyny;    pleometrosis;   

DOI  :  

来源: Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Brazil

【 摘 要 】

In ants, biology studies are especially important to complete the information aiming to identify species belonging to unresolved or confused taxa in taxonomy. Such observations allow the inclusion of biological data with other characteristics of determined group, something that preserved specimens in collections do not reveal, such as nesting site, foraging time, nuptial flight and especially the relationship between castes, supporting taxonomic analysis and descriptions. Here, nests of three species of the complexfoetidaof the genusPachycondylawere observed and collected in three Brazilian localities. Pleometrosis, secondary monogyny and cannibalism were observed for the antP. inversa . In many ant species, queens newly mated are associated with other queens to establish new colonies, independent of parenthood. In the ant genusPachycondyla , the reproductive structure varies broadly and aggressiveness seems to be an important factor in structuring the organization and reproductive division in the colony. The occurrence of males in nests ofP. inversaandP. curvinodisallowed the description of males. The nuptial flight period was estimated to ofP. inversa(August),P. villosa(October) andP. curvinodis(November).

【 授权许可】

Unknown