Ant gardens: interspecific recognition in parabiotic ant species |
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Authors: | Jérôme Orivel Christine Errard A Dejean |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée, URA CNRS 2214, Université Paris Nord, Av. J.B. Clément, F-93430 Villetaneuse, France Fax: (33-1) 49.40.39.75; e-mail: orivel@leec.univ-paris13.fr, dejean@leec.univ-paris13.fr, FR;(2) Laboratoire d'Ethologie et de Pharmacologie du Compartment, Université F. Rabelais, F-37200 Tours, France e-mail: errard@balzac.univ-tours.fr, FR |
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Abstract: | In French Guiana, parabiotic societies (natural mixed colonies) are frequently found in ant gardens. Crematogaster limata parabiotica (Myrmicinae), often associated with Camponotus femoratus (Formicinae), was found for the first time in parabiosis with ponerine ants: Pachycondyla goeldii and Odontomachus mayi. A detailed study of the relationships between Cr. l. parabiotica and O. mayi showed that each species is aggressive towards allospecific or conspecific individuals belonging to another colony, but tolerates
allospecific individuals from the multi-species society. Studies of cuticular substances of the four ant species were made
using gas chromatography. The results showed that each species, living alone or in parabiosis, possesses a specific chemical
profile. Thus, the ants are able to recognise nestmate and non-nestmate individuals of the associated species, even though
their cuticular profiles are different. The hypothesis that the nestmate allospecific profile is learned is suggested to explain
this pattern of recognition.
Received: 5 June 1996 / Accepted after revision: 17 October 1996 |
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Keywords: | Parabiosis Ant gardens Cuticular compounds Colonial recognition |
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