1982] 
Holldobler — Cerapachys 
15 
the laboratory, I could easily initiate nest emigrations by removing 
the waterplug and thereby causing the nest tube to quickly dry out. 
Individual workers soon ventured into the arena and eventually 
discovered a new moist nest tube located approximately 20-30 cm 
away from the old nest. After exploring the new nest site the scout 
moved back to the colony. When entering the nest tube it exhibited 
the same behavior as when recruiting to a raid, including a repetitive 
lifting of the gaster. When the scout left the nest again to return to 
the newly discovered nest site, it was usually followed by several 
ants. Most of these first recruits also showed the gaster raising 
behavior on their return to the colony, and soon the whole colony 
began to leave the old nest tube and move to the new one. The 
larvae and pupae were carried in the manner Brown (1975) pre- 
dicted, slung longitudinally under the bodies of the workers (Fig. 8). 
Adult transport was never observed; the ergatoid queens and even 
relatively freshly eclosed workers moved on their own to the nest 
site. The colonies did not contain males. After the workers had 
moved most of their own brood, they transported the prey larvae 
( Pheidole ). 
Figure 8. Cerapachys worker carrying a larva during nest emigration. 
