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Microclimatic Conditions Regulate Surface Activity in Harvester Ants Messor barbarus

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This paper analyses the effect of microclimatic factors (internal soil temperature, surface temperature and surface relative humidity) on surface activity of Messor barbarus harvester ants. We selected 44 colonies in an area of Mediterranean grassland near Madrid (Central Spain), which were monitored for activity between March 1998 and September 1999. Results indicate that microclimatic factors are good predictors of colony activation and intensity of activity. Colonies became active above certain critical values of internal soil temperature and relative humidity. For active colonies, surface temperature was the main regulatory factor for worker departure rate, which peaked at around 25–30°C. Worker speed was positively correlated with surface temperature, although the relationship was weaker for large-sized workers. Microclimatic factors were not enough, however, to predict task allocation outside the nest. The explanation for this aspect of ant behavior probably requires the inclusion of biotic factors in the models.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (projects AMB 990382 and REN 2003-01562) and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture (FPI scholarship to F.M. Azcárate).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C. U. Canto Blanco, E-28049, Madrid, Spain

    Francisco M. Azcárate & Begoña Peco

  2. Kiskunsag National Park, H-6000, Kecskemét, Hungary

    Eva Kovacs

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  1. Francisco M. Azcárate
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  2. Eva Kovacs
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  3. Begoña Peco
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Correspondence to Francisco M. Azcárate.

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Azcárate, F.M., Kovacs, E. & Peco, B. Microclimatic Conditions Regulate Surface Activity in Harvester Ants Messor barbarus . J Insect Behav 20, 315–329 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-007-9074-3

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