Behavioural Variability and Development of Cataglyphis cursor Ant Workers (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) 1 )

Abstract Variability and development of behaviour among Cataglyphis cursor ant workers was analyzed, after identifying each member of the studied nests by individual marking. Behavioural differences between workers of the same nest were considerable, even when they were assigned to the same behavioural class defined with multifactorial analysis. Workers' behaviour also changed considerably over short‐time intervals, for example from one day to another. Behavioural development was very variable. Only ⅓ of the workers followed the classical age polyethism, while the remainder showed stable behaviour or irregular variations from the expected scheme.