ADULT TRANSPORT IN THE ANT CATAGLYPHIS-IBERICA - A MEANS TO MAINTAIN A UNIFORM COLONIAL ODOR IN A SPECIES WITH MULTIPLE NESTS

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.