R. Feneron et P. Jaisson, ONTOGENY OF NESTMATE BROOD RECOGNITION IN A PRIMITIVE ANT, ECTATOMMA-TUBERCALUTUM OLIVIER (PONERINAE), Animal behaviour, 50, 1995, pp. 9-14
The capacity of the primitive ant Ectatomma tuberculatum to discrimina
te between nestmate and alien conspecific larvae in choice situations
in relation to worker's age, social status and early experience was in
vestigated. Brood discrimination was measured in terms of behavioural
acts (licking, transport, antennation). Only 2-10-week-old adults pref
erred nestmate larvae, as they specialized in nursing. Younger as well
as older workers were unable to discriminate brood. Teneral workers l
earned to recognize and prefer nestmate brood, even if it was unrelate
d (adopted from an alien conspecific colony). The familiarization lear
ning was always very labile, however. A temporary estrangement from br
ood was enough for a worker to lose either the template of recognition
cues, or the capacity to display preferential behaviour. (C) 1995 The
Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour