1982] 
Traniello — Amblyopone pallipes 
79 
3. Studies on the ethology of A. pallipes show that this species has 
retained many conservative behavioral traits. Among these are the 
absence of age polyethism and the provisioning of larvae with whole 
prey (chiefly chilopods and beetle larvae). Observations of preda- 
tory behavior do not support the hypothesis that colonies are 
nomadic. Prey are paralyzed by stinging and are then retrieved. 
Larvae feed directly on the body of the prey. 
4. A primitive form of alarm communication, presumably trans- 
mitted through body contact, is mediated by a vibratory display. 
Workers show attraction to head crushes, and mandibular gland 
pheromones appear to be involved in a weak form of recruitment. 
5. Because of the lack of precise information on the behavior of 
colony founding queens, the question of whether sociality in the 
Amblyoponini arose in a manner different from the partially claus- 
tral colony founding mode of Myrmecia remains an enigma. 
References 
Baroni Urbani C., 1978. — Contributo alia conoscenza del genere Amb/vopone 
Erichson (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. Soc. Entomol. Suisse, 51, 39-51. 
Brown W. L., 1960. — Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. 
III. Tribe Amblyoponini (Hymenoptera). Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard, 
122(4), 230 pp. 
Fagen R. M., Goldman R. N., 1977. — Behavioral catalogue analysis methods. 
Anim. Behav., 25, 261-274. 
Francoeur A., 1965. — Ecologie des populations de fourmis dans un bois de 
chenes rouges et d’erables rouges. Nat. Canadien, 92, 263-276. 
Francoeur A., 1979. — Les fourmis du Quebec. A nn. Soc. Entomol. Quebec, 24, 
12-47. 
Gotwald W. H., Levieux J., 1972. — Taxonomy and biology of a new west 
African ant belonging to the genus Amblyopone. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer., 65, 
383-396. 
Haskins C. P., 1928. — Notes on the behavior and habits of Stigmatomma pal- 
lipes Haldeman. J. New York Entomol. Soc., 36, 179-184. 
Haskins C. P., 1979. — Sexual calling behavior in highly primitive ants. Psyche, 
85,407-116. 
Haskins C. P., Enzmann E. V., 1938. — Studies of certain sociological and 
physiological features in the Formicidae. Ann. New York Acad. Sci., 37, 97-162. 
79. — Worker compatibilities within and 
between populations of Rhvtidoponera metallica. Psyche 86, 301-312. 
Holldobler B. K., 1977. — Communication in social Hymenoptera. In Sebeok 
T., ed.. How Animals Communicate. Indiana Univ. Press, Bloomington, Indiana, 
pp. 418-471. 
Holldobler B. K., Engel H., 1979. — Tergal and sternal glands in ants. Psyche, 
