Vibroacoustic signalling of the Maltese Messor ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), with geographical insights into M. ibericus

By

Lapeva-Gjonova, Albena
Gjonov, Ilia
Kostova, Rumyana
Mifsud, David

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-11-17

Original Publication

Journal of Hymenoptera research

Volume

98

Pages

1087--1106

Subjects

Biogeography , Harvester ants , Mediterranean , vibroacoustics

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Washington, D.C International Society of Hymenopterists

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.170415

 

Abstract

<br> This study presents vibroacoustic recordings of the three<br> Messor<br> species in the Maltese archipelago,<br> M. capitatus<br> (Latreille, 1798),<br> M. bouvieri<br> Bondroit, 1918, and<br> M. ibericus<br> Santschi, 1925, and their signal characteristics were analysed. The observed patterns are consistent with the hypothesis that acoustic traits in<br> Messor<br> ants are subject to species-specific constraints. To gain further insight into the sound parameters of<br> M. ibericus<br> , geographically isolated populations from Malta, Gozo, Sicily, Crete, and Bulgaria were compared, revealing variation and significant differences at the population level. Additionally, the study provides new occurrence data for<br> M. ibericus<br> (queens and workers), which was previously reported as<br> M. structor<br> (Latreille, 1798) for Malta, along with information on its habitat preferences and activity.<br>