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Complex Nesting Behavior by Two Neotropical Species of the Ant Genus Stenamma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) 1
Author(s) -
Longino John T.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
biotropica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1744-7429
pISSN - 0006-3606
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2005.00085.x
Subject(s) - nest (protein structural motif) , hymenoptera , nesting (process) , ecology , ant , biology , predation , zoology , biochemistry , materials science , metallurgy
Two Neotropical ant species, Stenamma expolitum Smith and S. alas new species (described here), exhibit three unusual nesting behaviors: (1) they build architecturally sophisticated nest entrances that elevate the nest opening away from the surface; (2) they maintain multiple identical nests but occupy only one of them; and (3) they keep a round “door pebble” at the nest entrance, with which they plug the opening in response to army ants. Adaptive hypotheses for these behaviors are discussed, including the possibility that there are multiple lines of defense against army ant predation.