Showing papers on "Lasius published in 1979"

An Ecological Survey of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a Landscaped Suburban Habitat

Abstract: The campus of North Carolina State University at Raleigh was surveyed for ants, with emphasis given to landscaped suburban habitats. Fifty-six species in 27 genera were distributed among four ecological categories. Twelve species were collected in fields and lawns away from bushes and trees, 33 species in sunny areas with ornamental bushes, 37 species in shaded areas with ornamental bushes and 29 species in wooded areas. The higher numbers of species in the sunny and shaded categories with ornamental bushes were due primarily to the presence of forest ants in addition to those typical of fields. Sidewalks and brick plazas were important in providing nesting sites. Species not native to the United States formed an important component of the fauna with one, Tetramorium caespitum (L.), being one of the most common species on campus. Species previously not reported from North Carolina are Hypoponera opaciceps (Mayr), Trichoscapa membranifera (Emery), Camponotus caryae caryae (Fitch) and Lasius speculiventris Emery.

Aggression and Gause's law in ants

Abstract: . Myrmica rubra societies were faced with intruders of the following species: M.rubra, M.sabuleti, Tetramorium caespitum, Lasius flavus and L.niger. The aggression of the resident workers was quantified by frequencies of mandible openings, seizings and gaster flexings. Intraspecific aggression was lower than interspecific, and it is suggested that this might be due to the polygynous behaviour of M.rubra. There was no simple relationship between the intensity of aggression and the taxonomic remoteness of the intruder species. Differences in the levels of the aggressive response need to be better understood by analysis of the eco-ethological interrelations of the species concerned.