Summary
Virgin queens of the fire ant,Solenopsis invicta Buren, that were removed from the influence of the inhibitory queen pheromone, dealated more readily in the presence of workers than in their absence. During 72 hours after disinhibition, a significantly greater number of overwintered virgin queens than spring-reared virgin queens dealated when they were isolated, but the numbers that dealated in the presence of workers were very similar. Some sexually immature virgin queens dealated after disinhibition. Virgin dealates were found to be capable of preventing other virgin queens from dealating.
The various factors that influence dealation by virgin queens were used to develop a bioassay for the inhibitory queen pheromone ofS. invicta.
Resume
Lorsque des reines vierges de la fourmi de feu sont soustraites à l'influence de la phéromone inhibitrice produite par la reine, elles perdent leurs ailes plus facilement en présence d'ouvrières qu'en leur absence. Lorsqu'elles sont isolées pendant 72 heures après la levée de l'inhibition, un nombre significativement plus grand de reines vierges ayant hiverné perdent leurs ailes, par rapport aux reines vierges élevées au printemps. Toutefois, les nombres d'individus perdant leurs ailes en présence d'ouvrières sont similaires. Après désinhibition, quelques reines vierges immatures perdent leurs ailes. Les sexués vierges désailés sont capables de prévenir la perte des ailes chez d'autres sexués vierges.
Les divers facteurs influençant la déalation chez les reines vierges ont été utilisés afin de développer un essai biologique pour la phéromone inhibitrice produite par la reine deS. invicta.
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Fletcher, D.J.C., Cherix, D. & Blum, M.S. Some factors influencing dealation by virgin queen fire ants. Ins. Soc 30, 443–454 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223975
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223975