Insectes Sociaux

, Volume 37, Issue 1, pp 73–89 | Cite as

Thearachne-group ofPolyrhachis (Formicidae, Formicinae): Weaver ants cultivating Homoptera on Bamboo

  • W. H. O. Dorow
  • U. Maschwitz
Article
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Summary

The biology of two species ofPolyrhachis which together form thearachne species-group is described. BothPolyrhachis arachne Emery 1896 andPolyrhachis hodgsoni Forel 1902 are confined to broad-leaved species of bamboo, but there is no ant-plant mutualism. They collect Homoptera on bamboo plants and cultivate them in leaf pavilions. The evolutionary advantages of this type of ecological specialization are discussed.

Keywords

Evolutionary Advantage Ecological Specialization Bamboo Plant 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Diearachne-Artengruppe der GattungPolyrhachis (Formicidae, Formicinae): Webeameisen, die Homopteren auf Bambus kultivieren

Zusammenfassung

Die Biologie zweierPolyrhachis-Arten, die dieArachne-Artengruppe bilden, wird beschrieben.Polyrhachis arachneEmery 1896 undPolyrhachis hodgsoniForel 1902 sind auf das Leben auf breitblättrigen Bambusarten spezialisiert, ohne jedoch mit diesen in mutualistischer Symbiose zu leben. Sie tragen verschiedene Homoptera in Blattpavillons und halten sie dort. Die evolutiven Vorteile dieser Einnischung werden diskutiert.

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Copyright information

© Masson 1990

Authors and Affiliations

  • W. H. O. Dorow
    • 1
  • U. Maschwitz
    • 1
  1. 1.Zoologisches Institut der J.W. Goethe-UniversitätFrankfurt am Main 1

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