Myrmecologische Nachrichten 9: 27-32; printable
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.25849/myrmecol.news_009:027
- Open Access: CC BY 4.0
- Year: 2006
- Title: Weather conditions during nuptial flight of Manica rubida (Latreille, 1802) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in southern Poland
- Journal: Myrmecological News
- Volume: 9
- Pages: 27-32
- Type of contribution: Original Article
- Supplementary material: No
- Abstract: Nuptial flight of many ant species occurs when weather conditions are appropriate; defined weather parameters may even initiate it. Various ant species have different seasons of nuptial flight but in Poland most of them take place in summer. Nuptial flights of Manica rubida (Latreille, 1802) were observed in Piekary Śląskie (Upper Silesia, Poland) in May 2004 and 2005, and also in April and May 2006. Obtained data suggest that appropriate weather conditions may be necessary for alate sexuals of this species to begin their nuptial flight. The question of reliability of literature data on nuptial flight dates is highlighted. According to literature, nuptial flight of M. rubida has a broad time range (from April to September). Overall, weather and climatic conditions, also in context with the semi-claustral mode of colony founding in this species may serve as an explanation of such discrepant reports.
- Key words: Manica rubida, nuptial flight, mating, swarming, phenology.
- Publisher: The Austrian Society of Entomofaunistics
- ISSN: Print: 1994-4136 - Online: 1997-3500