Cost to the cavity-nest ant Temnothorax crassispinus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of overwintering aboveground

European Journal of Entomology

Sławomir MITRUS¹ 

[1] Department of Biosystematics, Laboratory of Evolution and Animal Ecology, Opole University, Oleska 22, 45-052 Opole, Poland;

关键词: formicidae;    temnothorax crassispinus;    percentage survival;    overwintering;   

DOI  :  10.14411/eje.2013.026

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Most species of ants inhabiting the temperate zone overwinter underground, whereas those of the genus Temnothorax remain in nests aboveground. I studied the cost of aboveground overwintering. Workers of Temnothorax crassispinus survived in higher numbers (median = 88%) in artificial nests experimentally buried at a depth of 5 cm than those in nests on the surface (48%) of the soil. The results support the hypothesis that overwintering aboveground could be a consequence of a limited supply of nests and/or the advantage of being able to respond quickly to warm temperatures in spring.

【 授权许可】

Unknown