Summary
The twoPseudomyrmex species studied have the following communication systems:
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a)
P. triplarinus informs its nestmates about the presence of food, but not about its location.P. termitarius does neither.
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b)
Both species recognize their territory and/or area around the nest entrance through odours on the substrate.P. triplarinus marks its territory with a pheromone from the thorax, probably from the metapleural gland. This territorial mark lasts less than 1 h, and probably advertises at least part of the home range of the colony. The territorial odour used byP. termitarius, probably works as a nest entrance orientation mark, and lasts over 5 h, but less than 24 h. The origin of the odour is not clear.
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c)
P. triplarinus uses a cephalic pheromone as the main signal for nestmate recognition.P. termitarius uses non-identified odours, present on all body parts of the insect, as a nestmate recognition signal.
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d)
Both species produce alarm pheromones from the head and the gaster.
The communication systems are interpreted in relation to the ecological adaptations of each species.
Zusammenfassung
Die zwei untersuchtenPseudomyrmex-Arten haben die folgenden Kommunikationssysteme:
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a)
P. triplarinus informiert ihre Nestgenossinnen über das Vorhandensein von Futter, aber nicht über dessen Lage.P. termitarius hat keinerlei Kommunikation bei der Futtersuche.
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b)
Beide Arten erkennen ihr Territorium anhand von Duftstoffen.P. triplarinus markiert ihr Territorium mit einem Pheromon aus dem Thorax, wahrscheinlich von der Metathorakaldrüse. Die territoriale Markierung hat eine Lebensdauer von einer halben bis einer Stunde. Sie dient wahrscheinlich der Verteidigung des Territoriums. Die Markierung vonP. termitarius hält über 5 Stunden an und wirkt wahrscheinlich als Nesteingangs-Orientierungsmarke. Die Herkunft des Duftstoffes ist nicht klar.
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c)
P. triplarinus benützt ein Pheromon aus dem Kopf als Signal für das Erkennen ihrer Schwestern.P. termitarius verwendet nicht-identifizierte Duftstoffe, die überall im Körper vorhanden sind, als Identifikationssignal.
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d)
Beide Arten haben Alarmpheromone im Kopf und im Abdomen.
Die Kommunikationssysteme werden im Zusammenhang mit der oekologischen Adaption der Arten analysiert.
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Jaffé, K., Lopez, M.E. & Aragort, W. On the communication systems of the antsPseudomyrmex termitarius andP. triplarinus . Ins. Soc 33, 105–117 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224591
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224591