Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Encyclopedia of Social Insects pp 1–6Cite as

Matabele Ant (Megaponera analis)

  • 263 Accesses

The Matabele ant (Megaponera analis, formerly known as M. foetens and Pachycondyla analis) is a group-raiding ponerine species (Fig. 1) occurring in most of sub-Saharan Africa. This monotypic genus is most commonly known for its dietary specialization on termites of the subfamily Macrotermitinae [4, 12, 16]. Their conspicuous raiding behavior during foraging and seminomadic lifestyle are considered to be one of the first steps to true legionary behavior, as seen in army ants. The vernacular name Matabele ant refers to the warlike Matabele tribe of Southern Africa.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Major and minor workers of Megaponera analis after a raid transporting dead Macrotermes bellicosus minor soldiers

Full size image

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

References

  1. Bayliss, J., & Fielding, A. (2002). Termitophagous foraging by Pachycondyla analis (Formicidae, Ponerinae) in a Tanzanian coastal dry forest. Sociobiology, 39, 103–122.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Frank, E. T., Hönle, P. O., & Linsenmair, K. E. (2018). Time-optimized path choice in the termite-hunting ant Megaponera analis. Journal of Experimental Biology, 221, jeb174854.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Frank, E. T., & Linsenmair, K. E. (2017). Flexible task allocation and raid organization in the termite-hunting ant Megaponera analis. Insectes Sociaux, 64, 579–589.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  4. Frank, E. T., & Linsenmair, K. E. (2017). Individual versus collective decision making: Optimal foraging in the group-hunting termite specialist Megaponera analis. Animal Behaviour, 130, 27–35.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  5. Frank, E. T., Schmitt, T., Hovestadt, T., Mitesser, T., Stiegler, J., & Linsenmair, K. E. (2017). Saving the injured: Rescue behavior in the termite hunting ant Megaponera analis. Science Advances, 3, e1602187.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  6. Frank, E. T., Wehrhahn, M., & Linsenmair, K. E. (2018). Wound treatment and selective help in a termite-hunting ant. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 285, 1872.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hölldobler, B., Braun, U., Gronenberg, W., Kirchner, W. H., & Peeters, C. (1994). Trail communication in the ant Megaponera foetens (Fabr.) (Formicidae, Ponerinae). Journal of Insect Physiology, 40, 585–593.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  8. Holldobler, B., Peeters, C., & Obermayer, M. (1994). Exocrine glands and the attractiveness of the ergatoid queen in the ponerine ant Megaponera foetens. Insectes Sociaux, 41, 63–72.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  9. Lepage, M. G. (1981). Étude de la prédation de Megaponera foetens (F.) sur les populations récoltantes de Macrotermitinae dans un ecosystème semi-aride (Kajiado-Kenya). Insectes Sociaux, 28, 247–262.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  10. Longhurst, C., & Howse, P. E. (1979). Foraging, recruitment and emigration in Megaponera foetens (Fab.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Nigerian Guinea Savanna. Insectes Sociaux, 26, 204–215.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  11. Longhurst, C., & Howse, P. E. (1979). Some aspects of the biology of the males of Megaponera foetens (Fab) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Insectes Sociaux, 26, 85–91.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  12. Longhurst, C., Johnson, R. A., & Wood, T. G. (1978). Termite predation by Megaponera foetens (Fabr) (Hymenoptera – Formicidae) on termites in Nigerian southern Guinea savanna. Oecologia, 32, 101–107.

    CrossRef  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Oettler, J., Schmid, V. S., Zankl, N., Rey, O., Dress, A., & Heinze, J. (2013). Fermat’s principle of least time predicts refraction of ant trails at substrate borders. PLoS One, 8, e59739.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Villet, M. H. (1990). Division-of-labor in the Matabele ant Megaponera foetens (Fabr) (Hymenoptera-Formicidae). Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 2, 397–417.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  15. Yusuf, A. A., Crewe, R. M., & Pirk, C. W. W. (2014). Olfactory detection of prey by the termite-raiding ant Pachycondyla analis. Journal of Insect Science, 14, 53.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Yusuf, A. A., Gordon, I., Crewe, R. M., & Pirk, C. W. W. (2014). Prey choice and raiding behaviour of the ponerine ant Pachycondyla analis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Natural History, 48, 345–358.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  17. Yusuf, A. A., Pirk, C. W. W., Crewe, R. M., Njagi, P. G. N., Gordon, I., & Torto, B. (2010). Nestmate recognition and the role of cuticular hydrocarbons in the African termite raiding ant Pachycondyla analis. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 36, 441–448.

    CrossRef  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Erik T. Frank

Authors
  1. Erik T. Frank
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Erik T. Frank .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Caura Village, Trinidad and Tobago

    Dr. Christopher K. Starr

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Frank, E.T. (2020). Matabele Ant (Megaponera analis). In: Starr, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Social Insects. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90306-4_174-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90306-4_174-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-90306-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-90306-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

search

Navigation