Carbon Dioxide, a Releaser for Digging Behavior inSolenopsis Geminata(Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

[摘要] The behavior of ants digging through sand or clay in the directionof trapped nestmates has been described by Belt (1874) and Lafleur(I940). Wilson (1958) showed that inPogonomyrmex badius(Latreille) this behavior pattern is released by a volatile substanceoriginating from the mandibular glands. Later, McGurk et al.(1966) identified the responsible compound as 4-methyl-3-heptanone.At the same time, Blum and Warter (1966) isolated 2-heptanonefromConomyrma pyramica(Roger) and described its function asthe releaser of alarm and digging behavior. Spangler (1968) reportedthat not only whole workers, but also amputated parts as wellas larvae and pupae ofPogonomyrmex occidentalis(Cresson) attractworkers of this species and release digging behavior. Forrest (1963)studiedLasius flavus nearcticusand four species ofAcanthomyopsandfound that workers also dig to free ants of another species but attackthem as soon as they are released.During studies on a colony ofSolenopsis geminata(Fabricius),I noticed that returning foragers started to remove a plug of cottonused to block the entrance of an artificial nest immediately after itsmounting, even if the position of the entrance was rotated through180°. During most of these actions, they used their mandibles tochew away small pieces of the obstacle. The purpose of the presentpaper is to report on the finding that this behavior is released by thecarbon dioxide produced by the ants trapped inside the nest.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）