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The carrying of ants ( Cataglyphis bicolor Fab.) by others of the same nest
Author(s) -
Harkness R. D.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb04197.x
Subject(s) - nest (protein structural motif) , biology , hymenoptera , ecology , population , zoology , demography , biochemistry , sociology
The carrying of ants from the nest by others of the same species ( Cataglyphis bicolor Fab.) is described. Two types of carrying are distinguished, systematic removal of many adults and larval stages to a new nest, and carrying of individuals, alive or dead, that are dropped at distances up to 35 metres from the nest. The rate of carrying of individual ants from a nest varied from 0–15 per day in a population of foragers estimated as about 200, making 1500–2000 exits per day. Live and dead ants appeared to be treated similarly. Live ants, in the cases examined, went back to the nest. Evidence was obtained by marking ants that carriers were distinct in habits from non‐carriers, and also excavated earth from the nest.