Alate gyne of the ant Dolichoderus quadripunctatus (L.) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) follows foraging trail to aphids

By

Czechowski, Wojciech
Trigos Peral, Gema
Maák, István Elek
Vepsäläinen, Kari‏

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019

Original Publication

Journal of Hymenoptera research

Volume

71

Pages

241--248

Subjects

Ants , Aphids , behavioural plasticity , colony dynamics , gyne foraging , life history , Panaphis juglandis

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Washington, D.C International Society of Hymenopterists

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.71.36286

 

Abstract

The first observation of alate gyne of Dolichoderus quadripunctatus (L.) visiting aphids is described. A gyne walked along a foraging trail to the aphid Panaphis juglandis Goeze colony where it imbibed honeydew excreted on the leaf by the aphids, after which it returned to the trail. This recurred during two more days, always a single alate gyne at a time; hence the total number of gynes, one or more, remained open. The phenomenon, hitherto practically unknown in ants, is presented against the background of the biology of the species and discussed in the context of specific environmental circumstances and the colony dynamics.