Author:
Oettler, J. & Heinze, J.

Year:
2009

DOI:
10.25849/myrmecol.news_012:133

Title:
Polymorphism of female reproductives in the tramp ant Technomyrmex vitiensis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae)

Journal:
Myrmecological News

Volume:
12

Pages:
133-137

URL:
www.myrmecologicalnews.org

Keywords:
Technomyrmex vitiensis, intermorphic queens, caste system.

Abstract:
Colony reproduction in the tramp ant Technomyrmex vitiensis Mann, 1921 is characterized by the co-occurrence of dispersing winged queens and local, wingless, intermorphic reproductives, similar to other species of the T. albipes Smith, 1861 group. A morphometric analysis of intermorphs and workers separated the two castes and developmental character of ocelli and size of compound eye clearly correlate with ovarian development. Intermorphs constitute a substantial proportion of the colony, but in our sample only a small fraction of intermorphs were inseminated despite the presences of winged males. Wingless males, which mate with intermorphs in other Technomyrmex species, have as yet not been found in T. vitiensis. Our data support earlier findings from closely related Technomyrmex that reproduction is based on an opportunistic strategy enabling the species to rapidly colonize new habitat. An outbreak of a colony fragment into the walls of our laboratory was efficiently stopped by use of boric acid baits, indicating that trophallaxis is used to distribute food.

Publisher:
The Austrian Society of Entomofaunistics

ISSN:
Print: 1994-4136 - Online: 1997-3500