Nest site selection by fire ant queens |
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| Authors: | M. Kaspari E. L. Vargo |
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| Affiliation: | (1) Brackenridge Field Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Texas, 78712-1064 Austin, TX, USA;(2) Present address: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 94551 L-453 Livermore, CA, USA |
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| Abstract: | Summary We examined nest site selection by foundresses of the polygyne form ofSolenopsis invicta. In the laboratory, foundresses were allowed to nest in control soil vs. soil inoculated with refuse from a colony ofPheidole dentata, a natural enemy. In a second experiment foundresses chose between control andS. invicta soil. More foundresses (100%) avoided the soil of a natural enemy than the soil of a conspecific colony (79%) that may accept them into the nest. Foundresses from this polygyne ant appear to avoid other colonies in general, but avoid heterospecific colonies more. |
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| Keywords: | Solenopsis invicta nest site habitat selection alates colony founding |
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