Summary
Camponotus detritus nests are simple structures excavated among the roots of perennial vegetation in the sand dunes of the Namib Desert. They comprise a series of tunnels and chambers 100–400 mm deep, often lined with detritus. No “royal chamber” or food stores were found. Brood was found throughout the nest, throughout the year. Nest temperatures varied considerably. Mean nest temperatures were about 32°C in summer and 20–23°C in winter. The number of workers per nest varied from 218 to 16,000 with a mean and standard error of 3,404±570. Each colony comprised one to four nests. Only one nest per colony housed queens. Colony expansion and nest relocation occurred frequently.
Resume
Les nids deCamponotus detritus sont des structures simples, creusées parmi les racines de la végétation pérenne des dunes du désert de Namibie. Ils comprennent une série de tunnels et de chambres de 100–400 mm de profondeur, souvent tapissés avec des détritus. On ne trouve pas de «chambre royale» ou de réserves de nourriture. Le couvain se trouvait d'un bout à l'autre du nid. Les températures des nids variaient considérablement. Les températures moyennes des nids étaient d'environ 32°C en été et 20–23°C en hiver. Le nombre d'ouvrières par nid variait de 218 à 16 000 avec une moyenne de 3 404±570. Chaque colonie comprenait un à quatre nids. Seulement un nid par colonie avait des reines. Le développement des colonies et le changement de localisation des nids avaient lieu fréquemment.
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Curtis, B.A. Nests of the namib desert dune antCamponotus detritus Emery. Ins. Soc 32, 313–320 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224920
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224920