Summary
The responses of the four fire ant species found in Texas (Solenopsis aurea Wheeler,Solenopsis geminata Fabricius,Solenopsis invicta Buren, andSolenopsis xyloni McCook) to varied relative humidities were examined. Humidity preferences of worker ants were determined with a linear gradient chamber. Workers alone did not exhibit any hydrokinetic responses, whereas brood tending workers of all species tested showed a marked preference (negative hydrokinesis) for saturated atmospheres (near 100 % RH). The responses are presumably due to the broods' hogher susceptibility to desiccation.
Resume
Les réponses variées à l'humidité relative chez quatre espèces de fourmis de feu qui se trouvent au Texas (Solenopsis aurea, S. geminata, S. invicta, etS. xyloni) ont été examinées avec une chambre gradient linéaire. Seuls les ouvriers n'ont pas montré de réponse hydrokinétique, tandis que les ouvrières soigneuses de toutes les espèces examinées ont montré une préférence marquée (hydrokinesis négative) pour les atmosphères saturées (près de 100 % d'humidité relative). Les réponses sont probablement causées par la sensibilité plus élevée de la couvée à la dessication.
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A portion of the senior authors' M. S. thesis, Dept. of Entomology, Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, Texas 79409.
This study was supported by the Texas Department of Agriculture Interagency Agreements IAC (80-81)-0463, IAC (81-82)-0806 and IAC (82-83)-1651. Contribution No. T-10-142, College of Agricultural Sciences, Texas Tech Univ.
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Potts, L.R., Francke, O.F. & Cokendolpher, J.C. Humidity preferences of four species of fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae:Solenopsis). Ins. Soc 31, 335–340 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223616
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223616