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Agonistic behaviour ofMyrmica rubra L.

Le comportement agonistique deMyrmica rubra L.

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The behavioural repertory ofMyrmica rubra encountering an ant intruder has been described in quantifiable elements. Intruder species were the following:M. rubra, originating from the same natural society, but living in separate laboratory nests for the previous two years, true alienM. rubra, M. sabuleti, Tetramorium caespitum, Lasius flavus andL. niger. No qualitative differences showed up, except for predation againstL. flavus. Quantitative differences were not analyzed here.

  2. 2.

    A tentative flow diagram has been set up with these elements.

  3. 3.

    Correlations were calculated between the obviously aggressive seizing and the most frequent behaviours: threat (=mandibles opening, head down), gaster flexing (without stinging), carriage, self-cleaning and licking. Threat was always positively correlated with seizing, gaster flexing only when frequent enough. The aggressive motivation of some of these behaviours has been discussed.

  4. 4.

    A comparison is made between the agonistic behaviour ofM. rubra and that ofF. fusca (based on data fromWallis). Although minor differences showed up, the agonistic repertories of both species are rather similar.

  5. 5.

    The intruder's behaviour has also been observed: flight, pacifying responses, attack, and their efficiencies are discussed.

Résumé

  1. 1.

    Nous avons décrit sous forme d'éléments quantifiables le répertoire comportemental deMyrmica rubra face à une fourmi intruse. Les intruses appartenaient aux espèces suivantes:Myrmica rubra originaires de la même société naturelle, mais vivant séparées de leurs compagnes depuis deux ans,M. rubra étrangères,M. sabuleti, Tetramorium caespitum, Lasius flavus etL. niger.

    Aucune différence qualitative n'a pu être mise en évidence dans le comportement agressif envers les différents types d'intruses, exception faite de la prédation subie uniquement parL. flavus. Par contre, de grandes différences quantitatives sont apparues; elles n'ont pas été analysées ici.

  2. 2.

    A partir de ces éléments, nous avons ébauché un diagramme séquentiel.

  3. 3.

    Nous avons tenté d'établir des corrélations entre les prises (comportement évidemment agressif) et les autres comportements apparus (fréquemment: menace (ouverture des mandibules, tête basse), flexion de gaster (sans piqûre), transport, toilettage, léchage. La fréquence des menaces est toujours corrélée positivement à celle des prises. Une telle corrélation s'observe également entre la fréquence des menaces et celle des flexions de gaster lorsque ces dernières sont suffisamment nombreuses.

    La motivation agressive de certains de ces comportements a été analysée.

  4. 4.

    Nous avons comparé le comportement agonistique deM. rubra à celui deF. fusca (d'après les données deWallis). Quoique quelques différences soient apparues, dans l'ensemble les deux espèces ont un répertoire agonistique fort semblable.

  5. 5.

    Nous avons également observé le comportement de l'intruse: fuite, comportements d'apaisement, attaque, et nous discutons de leur efficacité respective.

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  1. Laboratoire de Biologie animale et cellulaire, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgique

    Claudine De Vroey & Jacques M. Pasteels

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  1. Claudine De Vroey
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  2. Jacques M. Pasteels
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De Vroey, C., Pasteels, J.M. Agonistic behaviour ofMyrmica rubra L.. Ins. Soc 25, 247–265 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224745

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