Intrusion on the Host Ant Species Lasius japonicus by Queens of the Shining Black Ant Lasius fuliginosus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)(Behavior and Ecology)

概要

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Queens of a social parasite ant Lasius fuliginosus exhibited sequential characteristic behaviors before intruding into the nests of the host species L. japonicus. After landing on the ground, queens prowled about and crept towards L. japonicus workers that were isolated from their nestmates. Queens attacked and quickly killed the workers with their mandibles, and then resumed prowling while holding the dead bodies at the joints between head and thorax, or occasionally at those between the thorax and abdomen. Alate queens sometimes stopped behind grasses or small stones, where they shed their wings using their hind- and mid-legs. The dealate queens then began prowling again, and approached the nest entrances of L. japonicus while keeping the heads of the workers bodies directed forwards. They often succeeded in entering nests without provoking any hostility from the L. japonicus workers at the entrance. Although they were occasionally blocked and viciously attacked by workers, displaying the host-workers bodies to nestmates allowed the dealate queens to penetrate the host nests.
日本昆虫学会の論文
2002-06-25