Showing papers on "Lasius published in 1971"
TL;DR: A substance, producing the same kind of alarm reaction in the ants, was produced by at least 1 species of myrmecophile, Pella japonicus (Sharp) and possibly by another, P. comes (Sharp).
Abstract: The alarm pheromone of Lasius (Dendrolasius) spathepus (Wheeler) was identified as citronellal. This pheromone was shown to come from the head of the ant and is probably produced in the mandibular glands. The natural products produced in the mandibular glands of species in the genus Lasius are discussed.
A substance, producing the same kind of alarm reaction in the ants, was produced by at least 1 species of myrmecophile, Pella japonicus (Sharp) and possibly by another, P. comes (Sharp). Ethanolic extracts of this substance also produced the identical alarm reaction. Moreover the substance from the myrmecophiles smelled the same as the substance from the ants. For these reasons, it is believed that this substance (probably from the tergal gland of the beetle) is an example of chemical mimicry wherein the myrmecophiles use the alarm reaction to elude their hosts under conditions of unusual ant excitement.
29 citations
TL;DR: The ant L. niger was chosen for this study because the more compact structure of its nest made transplantation possible and the second possibility could be tested experimentally by transplanting active colonies of one Lasius species into territory normally occupied by the other species.
Abstract: Brian (1964) has shown that colonies of the ant Lasius alienus (Forster) are found in high, dry, warm areas of heathland (dry heath) while colonies of the related species L. niger (L.) are found in low, wet, cooler areas (wet heath). The ant Tetramorium caespitum (L.) occupies the dry heath between these extremes and is a formidable competitor to both of the Lasius species. Furthermore, the fertilized females of L. niger and L. alienus tend to settle in those areas favoured by their own species (Brian, Hibble & Kelly 1966). Two questions can be posed: is there a process of selection by juvenile queens, during their nuptial flight, of those areas occupied by their own species? Or: are conditions in the type of heath occupied by one of the Lasius species unsuitable for the survival of colony founding queens of the other species? If this latter possibility were true it might be expected that a mechanism of territorial selection by fertilized females would arise by natural selection. It was considered that the second possibility could be tested experimentally by transplanting active colonies of one Lasius species into territory normally occupied by the other species. L. niger was chosen for this study because the more compact structure of its nest made transplantation possible.
13 citations