Some New Information on Ants’ Cemeteries Organization
Journal Title: Asian Journal of Biology - Year 2017, Vol 2, Issue 1
Abstract
Aim: We aimed to explain how ants manage to deposit nestmate corpses outside their nest. Methodology: We first summarized a previous study of ours dealing with the subject, and reported others carried out in the meantime by other researchers. Then, we executed a new experimental work on the ant Myrmica ruginodis. We studied the ethological effects of chemical material present at cemetery sites and examined the tracks made by ants going to and from cemeteries. This gave the explanation of how and why ants transport and deposit corpses far from their nests, collectively or individually, and form piles or not. Results: An ant loading a corpse moves away from its nest, discontinuously depositing some of the contents of its Dufour gland. It drops the corpse far from the nest, moves slowly, even rests for a time, and lays down some of its poison gland. Such deposits induce klinokinesis in nestmates and consequently incite nestmates carrying a corpse to approach this place moving slowly, sinuously, and finally to drop their load there, which leads to the formation of piles. When the ant has dropped the corpse, it returns to its nest while depositing, over a short distance, the trail of pheromone issued from its poison gland. Any ants can act similarly and individually. Corpses can thus be piled or laid down anywhere far from the nest. Conclusion: The results of our experiment agree with other researchers’ studies, and explain the apparition of piles of corpses, as well as the presence of corpses at places far from the nest.
Authors and Affiliations
Marie-Claire Cammaerts
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP337795
- DOI 10.9734/AJOB/2017/32012
- Views 69
- Downloads 0
Bio-insecticidal and Grain Protectant Activities of Mixed Powder of Ocimum gratissimum and Vernonia amydalina against Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in Calabar, Nigeria
The bio-insecticidal and grain protectant activities of mixed powder of Ocimum gratissimum and Vernonia amygdalina upon Callosobruchus maculatus was carried out in Calabar, Nigeria during the dry season (August to Novemb...
Survey on Nutrition and Feeding Practices of Fish by Farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria
This study was carried out to examine the feeding practices adopted by fish farmers in Ondo State Nigeria. Specifically, the objectives were to describe their socio economic characteristics, evaluate the availability of...
Antimicrobial and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Two Different Marine Red Algae Species Collected from Quseir, the Red Sea, Egypt
Aims: This study aimed to analyze the bioactivities of two different species of marine red algae crude extracts; Acanthophora spicifera (M.Vahl) Borgese and Digenea simplex (Wulfen) C.Agardh. Place and Duration of Study:...
Food Preservatives and Their Uses: A Short Report
Packaged food and beverages are consumed all over the world for their nutritional value, durability, thirst quenching properties, stimulating effect and for their medicinal values. With changing lifestyle and requirement...
Effects of Palm Oil Mill Effluent on Soil Microflora and Fertility in Calabar – Nigeria
In the present study, an agricultural soil artificially amended with different concentrations of palm oil mill effluent was analysed to determine its impact on the soil microflora and other properties such as pH, organic...