1984] 
Wheeler — Behavior of Proeryptoeerus 
175 
A bdominal trophallaxis 
Both Wilson ( 1976) and Cole ( 1980) found that Z. various exhi- 
bited a behavior rarely found in ants, abdominal trophallaxis. This 
behavior has not been observed in the only other cephalotine pre- 
viously studied, C. atratus (Corn, 1980). Here 1 report that P. sea- 
hriuseulus also exhibits abdominal trophallaxis. The behavior was 
observed primarily in individuals that had just emerged. Within 
hours after a worker eclosed and was able to walk, it initiated 
abdominal trophallaxis, licking the abdominal tip of a nestmate. 
Single contacts lasted as long as 30 minutes, and the same individual 
engaged in additional, shorter contacts over a period of several 
hours. Brief periods of abdominal trophallaxis between older 
workers and between a worker and a queen was also observed. 
These contacts were much shorter than the contacts involving cal- 
lows, generally less than 10 seconds and frequently only 1 2 
seconds. 
The function of this unusual ant behavior remains unknown. The 
fact that callows, newly molted individuals, seek out the substance is 
reminiscent of proctodeal feeding so well documented in lower ter- 
mites (Cleveland, 1926). Such behavior would be appropriate for 
transferring essential gut flora to newly ecdysed adults. Finally, it is 
a suspicious coincidence that cephalotines have two unusual charac- 
ters apparently associated with the digestive tract: the mushroom- 
shaped, sclerotized proventricular valves and abdominal trophal- 
laxis. Perhaps these ants have undiscovered dietary peculiarities. 
Outside the cephalotines, abdominal trophallaxis has been 
reported between the slavemaking ant, Harpagoxenus amerieanus, 
and its host species, Leptothorax ambiguus and L. longispinosus. 
Workers and queens of PI. amerieanus occasionally assume a stereo- 
typed posture, with the abdomen raised, and exude a droplet of 
fluid which is consumed by workers of the host species (Stuart, 
1981). This unusual case of interspecific trophallaxis undoubtedly 
has an entirely different function than the type of abdominal tro- 
phallaxis described in cephalotines which occurs primarily between 
callow and fully pigmented workers. 
Transfer of liquid food 
Workers of P. seabriuseulus exchange liquid food at moderately 
high rate in comparison other cephalotines. 1 5.9% of total acts per- 
formed by workers involved exchange (donating plus soliciting) of 
