Prey availability and eclosion-help of callow workers in the formicine ant Camponotus mus

Summary In the ant Camponotus mus the eclosion of imagines from the cocoons was shown to be controlled by nurse workers, which broke the cocoons and assisted the callows to energe. Short-term colony prey deprivation modified the eclosion-help behavior resulting in a delay in cocoon opening times. During long-term prey deprivation, no new cocoons were spun; the starved larvae grew and pupated when prey was again available. These findings as a colony strategy adapted to the changing condition of prey availabitity in a temperate habitat are discussed.