PLASTICITY OF THE CUTICULAR HYDROCARBON PROFILE OF THE SLAVE-MAKING ANT POLYERGUS-RUFESCENS DEPENDING ON THE SOCIAL-ENVIRONMENT

Analysis of cuticular hydrocarbon mixtures of the slave-making ant Pol yergus rufescens and the Formica rufibarbis or F. cunicularia slaves w ith which it was living either naturally or after the slave species ha d been experimentally exchanged showed that cohabitation induced no qu alitative homogenization of these species' cuticular signatures. The p roportions of hydrocarbons common to both species tended however to be adjusted (in the case of the natural associations) or readjusted (in that of the experimental associations), especially in Polyergus toward s those of their partners. On the other hand, differences were observe d between the cuticular profiles of Polyergus and their Formica slaves which had been living separately from the original colony for several weeks in an experimental group, and those of the members of the origi nal colony. The changes in the cuticular profiles occurred synchronous ly in all the individual members of the group. Comparisons between the cuticular versus postpharyngeal slave-maker and slave mixtures showed the existence of qualitative differences between the two mixtures. Th is indicates that the postpharyngeal glands are not directly involved in the production of the cuticular signatures. Some possible explanati ons for these results are discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.