Age polyethism in the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus Forel, 1911 (Hym., Formicidae) |
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| Authors: | R S Camargo L C Forti J F S Lopes A P P Andrade A L T Ottati |
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| Institution: | Laboratório de Insetos Sociais-Praga, Departamento de Produção Vegetal –Setor Defesa Fitossanitária, FCA/UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil;;Comportamento e Biologia Animal, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas –ICB, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora –UFJF, Campus Universitário Martelos, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, Brazil;;Departamento de Fitotecnia e Fitossanidade, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Campus Universitário Paulo VI, São Luis, Maranhão State, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | Abstract This study describes and quantifies the behavioural acts of two laboratory colonies of Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus by investigating worker age polyethism. Twenty-nine behavioural acts were recorded during the 19-week observation period. Young individuals performed tasks inside the nest related to brood care and care for the fungus garden, whereas older individuals performed activities outside the nest such as foraging and activities in the waste chamber. The average longevity (±SD) was 108.21 ± 3.30, 109.15 ± 1.92 and 122.71 ± 1.55 days for large, medium and small workers, respectively. The small-sized workers presented a higher probability of reaching older age than large- and medium-sized workers. This study describes task switching according to age polyethism and the relationship of physical and temporal subcastes. |
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| Keywords: | behavioural acts leaf-cutting ants temporal subcastes |
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