Behavioral adaptations for raiding in the slave-making ant,Polyergus breviceps |
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Authors: | Howard Topoff Stefan Cover Anke Jacobs |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Psychology, Hunter College of CUNY, 695 Park Avenue, 10021 New York, New York;(2) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, 02138 Cambridge, Massachusetts |
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Abstract: | We studied recruitment behavior of the slavemaking ant Polyergus breviceps,which typically raids colonies of Formica gnava.The first test series demonstrated the importance of social context, by showing that recruitment was high during raiding, but virtually absent during preraid circling and during the return trip after a slave raid. The second test series showed that Formicapupae (alone or together with adults) must be present for workers of Polyegrusto recruit nestmates. The third test series demonstrated that panic alarm by raided Formicais caused by a pheromone, and we suggest that adults of Formicamay be the source of this secretion. Finally, the fourth test series showed that formic acid is lethal to adults of Formicabut has almost no adverse effect on Polyergus.This relative immunity by Polyergusmay enable them to remain organized while entering nests of Formicaduring slave raids. |
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Keywords: | Polyergus social parasitism recruitment communication alarm slavery |
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