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Individual foraging and path fidelity in a ponerine ant

Fourragement individuel et fidélité à la piste chez une fourmi Ponérine

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Summary

An investigation of field foraging in colonies ofNeoponera apicalis is reported. We observed that workers develope an individualized foraging strategy with a high degree of regional specialization that persists for extended periods. The use of visual cues seems to constitute the basis for the spatial orientation. No recruitment was never observed during foraging as in other Ponerine ants, tandem running was only seen during a natural translocation of a colony. These observations reveal a primitive and original food-supply strategy in ants.

Resume

Trois colonies deNeoponera apicalis ont été observées lors d'une étude en nature. Dans cette espèce, chaque ouvrière pourvoyeuse prospecte et chasse solitaïrement dans un site individualisé pour lequel elle se spécialise sur de longues périodes. L'orientation des fourrageuses semble probablement reposer sur l'utilisation d'un repérage visuel. Durant le fourragement, il n'est jamais fait usage de processus de recrutement comme on l'observe chez d'autres Ponérines. Le «tandem running» a été observé seulement lors du déménagement spontané d'une colonie. Ceci révèle, à notre avis, une stratégie d'approvisionnement originale et primitive chez les fourmis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité de Recherche Associée au C.N.R.S. no 667 Laboratoire d'Ethologie et Sociobiologie, Université Paris-Nord, F-93430, Villetaneuse

    D. Fresneau

  2. Centro de Investigaciones Ecologicas del Sureste, Apdo. Postal 36, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico

    D. Fresneau

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Fresneau, D. Individual foraging and path fidelity in a ponerine ant. Ins. Soc 32, 109–116 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224226

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224226

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