OPTIMAL PATCH USE BY FORAGING WORKERS OF LASIUS-FULIGINOSUS, L. NIGERAND MYRMICA-RUGINODIS

1. The predictions of the marginal value theorem, that foragers should time in both better quality patches and more distant patches, were te sted with three European ant species, Lasius fuliginosus, L. niger and Myrmica ruginodis. 2. As the quality of patches of sucrose solution i ncreased, the feeding time of foraging workers of L. niger also increa sed. 3. At constant patch quality, feeding times of L. niger and M. ru ginodis increased with increasing distance of the patch from the nest entrance. 4. Foraging workers of L. fuliginosus showed a similar respo nse to patch distance in the held, but feeding times were also signifi cantly influenced by air temperature, decreasing as temperature increa sed. 5. These results show qualitative agreement with the predictions of the marginal value theorem.