Territories of the African Weaver Ant (Oecophylla longinoda [Latreille]); A Field Study

Berthold Hoelldobler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

The African weaver ant (Oecophylla longinoda) is known to be highly aggressive toward conspecific aliens. In the study area Shimba Hills Reserve (Kenya) individual territories sometimes covered an area of up to approximately 1600 m2, comprising 17 major trees. The territorial defense is organized by an elaborate defense recruitment system, which can also be aimed against several other ant species, which are potential competitors of Oecophylla for essential resources. This selective “enemy identification” seems to be the major behavioral mechanism by which the mosaic distribution of ecologically dominant ants is regulated. 1979 Blackwell Verlag GmbH

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)201-213
Number of pages13
JournalZeitschrift für Tierpsychologie
Volume51
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1979
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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