Abstract
The Neotropical ant Prionopelta amabilis, a cryptobiotic species in the phylogenetically primitive tribe Amblyoponini, lives in subterranean habitats, where it preys preferentially on campodeid diplurans and other small arthropods. Here we report that the species employs chemical recruitment and orientation trails during foraging and nest emigrations. The trail pheromone originates in a hitherto unknown basitarsal gland located in the basitarsus of the hindlegs. Trails are laid by a special foot dragging behavior. During the recruitment process the chemical trail signal is complemented by body shaking on the part of the recruiting ant. Foragers frequently wipe the basitarsal gland opening in the hindlegs with the grooming apparatus of the front legs. This latter structure is equipped with unusual glands evidently specialized for this purpose.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 9-16 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Comparative Physiology A |
| Volume | 171 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 1992 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Ants
- Communication
- Pheromones
- Ponerinae
- Prionopelta
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Neuroscience(all)
- Physiology (medical)
- Physiology
- Animal Science and Zoology
Cite this
Communication in the primitive cryptobiotic ant Prionopelta amabilis (Hymenoptera : Formicidae). / Hoelldobler, Berthold; Obermayer, M.; Wilson, E. O.
In: Journal of Comparative Physiology A, Vol. 171, No. 1, 08.1992, p. 9-16.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Communication in the primitive cryptobiotic ant Prionopelta amabilis (Hymenoptera
T2 - Formicidae)
AU - Hoelldobler, Berthold
AU - Obermayer, M.
AU - Wilson, E. O.
PY - 1992/8
Y1 - 1992/8
N2 - The Neotropical ant Prionopelta amabilis, a cryptobiotic species in the phylogenetically primitive tribe Amblyoponini, lives in subterranean habitats, where it preys preferentially on campodeid diplurans and other small arthropods. Here we report that the species employs chemical recruitment and orientation trails during foraging and nest emigrations. The trail pheromone originates in a hitherto unknown basitarsal gland located in the basitarsus of the hindlegs. Trails are laid by a special foot dragging behavior. During the recruitment process the chemical trail signal is complemented by body shaking on the part of the recruiting ant. Foragers frequently wipe the basitarsal gland opening in the hindlegs with the grooming apparatus of the front legs. This latter structure is equipped with unusual glands evidently specialized for this purpose.
AB - The Neotropical ant Prionopelta amabilis, a cryptobiotic species in the phylogenetically primitive tribe Amblyoponini, lives in subterranean habitats, where it preys preferentially on campodeid diplurans and other small arthropods. Here we report that the species employs chemical recruitment and orientation trails during foraging and nest emigrations. The trail pheromone originates in a hitherto unknown basitarsal gland located in the basitarsus of the hindlegs. Trails are laid by a special foot dragging behavior. During the recruitment process the chemical trail signal is complemented by body shaking on the part of the recruiting ant. Foragers frequently wipe the basitarsal gland opening in the hindlegs with the grooming apparatus of the front legs. This latter structure is equipped with unusual glands evidently specialized for this purpose.
KW - Ants
KW - Communication
KW - Pheromones
KW - Ponerinae
KW - Prionopelta
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0001919661&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0001919661&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/BF00195956
DO - 10.1007/BF00195956
M3 - Article
VL - 171
SP - 9
EP - 16
JO - Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology
JF - Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology
SN - 0340-7594
IS - 1
ER -