Colony composition and queen behavior in polygynous colonies of the oriental ponerine antOdontomachus rixosus (Hymenoptera Formicidae) |
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Authors: | F Ito N R Yusoff A H Idris |
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Institution: | (1) Biological Laboratory, Faculty of Education, Kagawa University, Takamatsu, 760 Kagawa, Japan;(2) Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
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Abstract: | Summary Colony composition and behavior of queens in the ponerine antOdontomachus rixosus were investigated in Bogor (West Java) and Ulu Gombak (Penisular Malaysia). The colonies had multiple dealate queens, with a maximum of 82 queens per colony. Majority of queens (92.4%) were inseminated and laid eggs, however, the degree of ovarian development slightly varied among individual queens. Queen behavior was observed for one colony in laboratory. Reproductive condition of individual queens was related with behavioral profiles. Virgin queens and mated queens having less developed ovaries engaged in foraging, larval care and grooming workers while fertile mated queens performed egg care and grooming queens. Aggressive interactions among coexisting queens were not observed. |
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Keywords: | Ponerinae Odontomachus polygyny queen reproduction polyethism |
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