Abstract
Behavioral and chemical studies with laboratory colonies indicate that the imported fire antSolenopsis invicta Buren (Myrmicinae) disperses venom through the air by raising and vibrating its gaster (i.e., “gaster flagging”). This mechanism of airborne venom dispersal is unreported for any ant species. Foraging workers utilize this air-dispersed venom (up to 500 ng) to repel heterospecifics encountered in the foraging arena, while brood tenders dispense smaller quantities (∼ 1 ng) to the brood surface, presumably as an antibiotic. Brood tenders removed from the brood cell and tested in heteropspecific encounters in the foraging arena exhibited the complete repertoire of agonistic gaster flagging behavior. These observations suggest that airborne venom dispersal by workers is context specific rather than temporal caste specific and that workers can control the quantity of venom released.
References
Adams, C.S., andTraniello, J.F.A. 1981. Chemical interference competition byMonomorium minimum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).Oecologia 51:265–270.
Banks, W.A., Lofgren, C.S., Jouvenaz, D.P., Stringer, C.E., Biship, P.M., Williams, D.F., Wojcik, D.P., andGlancey, B.M. 1981. Techniques for collecting, rearing, and handling imported fire ants. U.S. Dep. Agric. Sci. Ed. Admin., AAT-S-21:1–9.
Beattie, A.J., Turnbull, L., Knox, R.B., andWilliams, E.G. 1984. Ant inhibition of pollen function: A possible reason why ant pollination is rare.Am. J. Bot. 71:421–426.
Bhatkar, A., Whitcomb, W.H., Buren, W.F., Callahan, P., andCarlysle, T. 1972. Confrontation behavior betweenLasius neoniger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and the imported fire ant.Environ. Entomol. 1:275–279.
Blum, M.S., Jones, T.H., Hölldobler, B., Fales, H.M., andJaouni, T. 1980. Alkaloidal venom mace: offensive use by a thief ant.Naturwissenschaften 67:144–145.
Blum, M.S., Walker, J.R., Callahan, P.S., andNovak, A.F. 1958. Chemical, insecticidal and antibiotic properties of fire ant venom.Science 128:306–307.
Bradshaw, J.W.S., andHowse, P.E. 1984. Semiochemicals of ants, pp. 429–473,in W.J. Bell and R.T. Cardé (eds.). Chemical Ecology of Insects. Sinauer Assoc., Sunderland, MA.
Brand, J.M., andBlum, M.S. 1973. Biochemical evolution in fire ant venoms.Insect Biochem. 3:45–51.
Buschinger, A. 1968. “Locksterzeln” begattungsbereiter ergatoider Weibchen vonHarpagoxenus sublaevis NYL. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).Experientia 24:297.
Buschinger, A. 1971. “Locksterzeln” und Kopula der sozial parasitischen AmeiseLeptothorax kutteri Buschinger (Hym., Form.).Zool. Anz. 186:242–248.
Hermann, H.R., andBlum, M.S. 1981. Defensive mechanisms in the social Hymensptera, pp. 77–197,in H.R. Hermann (eds.).Social Insects, Vol II, Academic Press, New York.
Hölldobler, B. 1973. Chemische Strategie beim Nahrumgswerwerb der Diebameise (Solenopsisfugax Latr.) und der Pharaoameise (Monomoriumpharaonis L.).Oecologia 11:371–380.
Hölldobler, B. 1982. Interference strategy ofIridomyrmex pruinosum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) during foraging.Oecologia 52:208–213.
Iwanami, Y., andIwadare, T. 1978. Inhibiting effects of myrmicacin on pollen growth and pollen tube mitosis.Bot. Gaz. 139:42–45.
Jaffe, K., andPuche, H. 1984. Colony-specific territorial marking with the metapleural gland secretion in the antSolenopsis geminata (Fabr).J. Insect Physiol. 30:265–270.
Jouvenaz, D.P., Blum, M.S., andMacConnessll, J.G. 1972. Antibacterial activity of venom alkaloids from the imported fire ant,Solenopsis invicta Buren.Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2:291–293.
Lofgren, C.S., Banks, W.A., andGlancey, B.M. 1975. Biology and control of imported fire ants.Annu. Rev. Entomol. 20:1–30.
Maschwitz, U. 1964. Gefahrenalarmstoffe und Gefahrenalarmierung bei Sozialen Hymenopteron.Z. Vergl. Physiol. 47:596–655.
Maschwitz, U., andKloft, W. 1971. Morphology and function of the venom apparatus of insects, bees, wasps, ants and caterpillars, pp. 31–60,in W. Bücherl and E.E. Buckley (eds.). Venomous Animals and Their Venoms. Academic Press, New York.
Maschwitz, U., andKloft, W. 1971. Morphology and function of the venom apparatus of insects, bees, wasps, ants and caterpillars, pp. 31–60,in W. Bücherl and E.E. Buckley (eds.). Venomous Animals and Their Venoms. Academic Press, New York.
Maschwitz, U., Koob, K. andSchildknecht, H. 1970. Ein beitrag zur fumktion der metathoracaldrüse der ameisen.J. Insect Physiol. 16:387–404.
Mason, B.J., Jayaratri, O.W., andWoods, J.D. 1963. An improved vibrating capillary device for producing uniform water droplets of 15 to 500 μm radius.J. Sci. Instrum. 40:247–249.
Mirenda, J.T., andVinson, S.B. 1981. Division of labour and specification of castes in the red imported fire antSolenopsis invicta Buren.Anim. Behav. 29:410–420.
Möglich, M. 1979. Tandem calling pheromone in the genusLeptothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Behavioral analysis of specificity.J. Chem. Ecol. 5:35–52.
Möglich, M., Maschwitz, U., andHölldobler, B. 1974. Tandem calling: A new signal in ant communication.Science 186:1046–1047.
Post, D.C., andJeanne, R.L. 1983. Venom: Source of a sex pheromone in the social waspPolistes fuscatus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 9:259–266.
Rayleigh, L. 1879. On the capillary phenomena of jets.Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 291:71–97.
Schildknecht, H., andKoob, H. 1970. Plant bioregulators in the metathoracic glands of myrmicine ants.Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 9:173.
Schildknecht, H., andKoob, H. 1971. Myrmicacin, the first insect herbicide.Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 10:124–125.
Schmidt, J.O. 1978. Ant venoms—study of venom diversity, pp. 247–264,in D.L. Shankland, R.M. Hollingworth, and T. Smyth (eds.). Pesticide and Venom Neurotoxicity. Plenum Press, New York.
Stringer, C.E., Glancey, B.M., Craig, C.C., andMartin, B.B. 1972. Air separation of different castes of the imported fire ant.J. Econ. Entomol. 65:872–873.
Touchstone, J.C., andDobbins, M.F. 1978. Practice of Thin-Layer Chromatography. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 383 pp.
Wilson, E.O. 1971. The Insect Societies. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Wilson, E.O. 1978. Division of labor in fire ants based on physical castes.J. Kans. Entomol. Soc. 51:615–636.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Obin, M.S., Vander Meer, R.K. Gaster flagging by fire ants (Solenopsis spp.): Functional significance of venom dispersal behavior. J Chem Ecol 11, 1757–1768 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012125
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012125