1994/01/01 by Alessandra Mori, Patrizia d’Ettorre, F. Le Moli · 16 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Amazon rainforest #Biology #Ecology #Hymenoptera #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior #Insect and Pesticide Research #Mating #Nest (protein structural motif) #Plant and animal studies #RAID #Sympatric speciation #Zoology
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/11250009409355886
published in Bolletino di zoologia 61(3), 203-206 (Taylor & Francis)
openalex publication_date 1994/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The mating and post‐mating behaviour of reproductives belonging to three sympatric dulotic colonies of the obligatory slave‐making ant Polyergus rufescens Latr. (the ≪Amazon≫) were analysed in the field near Parma (Italy) every day during the summer of 1992. Forty‐two nuptial flights (of males, females, or both) were recorded, generally in sunny and hot early afternoons. Our observations show that the European amazon ant adopts a reproductive behaviour (similar to the ≪female calling syndrome≫) more diverse than that performed by the two American congeneric species. The results indicate that P. rufescens females (i) mate on the ground around their natal nest, or (ii) return to a dulotic colony after mating flights and wait for a raid, or (iii) mate directly during a raid. Because of the non‐independent mode of colony foundation typical of the obligatory slave‐makers, the following of a slave‐raid swarm by newly inseminated young queens is considered an advantageous strategy to locate and invade host nests and to establish a new dulotic colony.