A. Dahbi et al., ADULT TRANSPORT IN THE ANT CATAGLYPHIS-IBERICA - A MEANS TO MAINTAIN A UNIFORM COLONIAL ODOR IN A SPECIES WITH MULTIPLE NESTS, Physiological entomology, 22(1), 1997, pp. 13-19
Societies of the ant Cataglyphis iberica (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) com
prise several satellite queenless nests around a queenright nest. Duri
ng spring, at the end of hibernation, the incidence of adult transport
between these nests is high, but it decreases during summer. Quantita
tive analyses of the contents of postpharyngeal glands of transporter
and transportee ants reveal the amounts of hydrocarbons to be lower in
the latter, indicating that these ants are generally younger. Moreove
r, the more diverse composition of the transportees' secretion may ref
lect their individual makeup. Transporters, in contrast, maintained a
uniform colony odour through trophallactic exchanges before entering h
ibernation. The odour disparity between the transportees and the gener
al colony odour may stimulate the transporters to bear them;to the nes
t containing the queen where they can obtain the colony odour via trop
hallaxis. The intense traffic between satellite nests in the spring ma
y thus be the means by which a uniform colonial odour-is regained afte
r hibernation. Adult transport seems also to be necessary since the yo
ung transportee ants are not able to orient themselves and find the ot
her nests.