TIMING OF MATING FLIGHTS IN THE WESTERN HARVESTER ANT, POGONOMYRMEX OCCIDENTALIS CRESSON (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE)

Authors
Citation
Jf. Mull et To. Crist, TIMING OF MATING FLIGHTS IN THE WESTERN HARVESTER ANT, POGONOMYRMEX OCCIDENTALIS CRESSON (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE), Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 66(3), 1993, pp. 372-375
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Entomology
ISSN journal
00228567
Volume
66
Issue
3
Year of publication
1993
Pages
372 - 375
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-8567(1993)66:3<372:TOMFIT>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
Nuptial flights of the western harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex occidentali s Cresson, were observed over five consecutive years at a site in the shrub-steppe of southwestern Wyoming and their seasonal timing related to local precipitation patterns. Ah flights followed within 1-2 days of a rain. Nest soil temperature following a rain may be the proximate cue that determines daily flight timing. We relate the timing and fre quency of mating activity observed in our study with those observed fo r Pogonomyrmex species in other environments.