ISSN:
1420-9098
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Conclusion. Summary Morphological and statistical researches on the sensory equipment of the Ant's antennæ in chapter I of this work have enabled us to interpret some biological phenomena to be enlarged upon in the next chapters. The part played by the champagne cork shaped organs in the trophallaxic behaviour has been shown by ablations ofMyrmica lævinodis Nyl. antennæ.Aphænogaster gibbosa Latr., a species which does not practise the stomodeal exchanges, possesses twice less numerous champagne cork shaped organs on its antennæ. Besides, in those mixed colonies where the two species are bred together,Aphænogaster sometimes receives food fromMyrmica. However the importance of those needful organs should hot be overvalued becauseMyrmica is partly able to practise the trophallaxic behaviour whithout its feelers. Moreover, ifAphænogaster does not exchange food in its nests, this is certainly not due to a defect of its sensory equipment but very likely to the disappearance of the innate behaviour of «agiver», an inductor of the one of a «receiver». ThusAphænogaster's sensory equipment does need to become as evolued as the one ofMyrmica. The importance (very likely of an olfactory nature) of those organs in other behaviours may have caused its persistence onAphænogaster's antennæ. The crop of that ant has grown much less extensible than the one ofMyrmica. It is further to be noticed that the behaviour ofMyrmica as agiver when its feelers have been cut-off proves easier to carry out but more difficult to acquire or to preserve on the evolutive plane, and thus seems to be more basic as regards trophallaxy. Finaly, beyard the knowledge of the sensory qualities, the interest of the myrmecological material lies in that it affords a new method of approach for the study of the determinism of the behaviour.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02309000
