The effect of trail length on task partitioning in three Acromyrmex species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Nenhuma Miniatura disponível
Data
2003-05-19
Autores
Lopes, Juliane F. [UNESP]
Forti, Luiz Carlos [UNESP]
Camargo, Roberto S. [UNESP]
Matos, Carlos A.O. [UNESP]
Verza, Sandra S. [UNESP]
Título da Revista
ISSN da Revista
Título de Volume
Editor
Resumo
By comparing the behavior of three Acromyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) species during foraging on artificial trails of different lengths, we observed the occurrence of task partitioning and its relation to the food distance from the nest. Task partitioning was verified by leaf cache formation along the trail and leaf direct transferring among workers. There was significant difference between the number of leaf fragments carried directly to the fungus chamber and those transferred direct or indirectly, via cache, depending upon the trail length. Task partitioning could be a strategy used by leaf-cutting ants that allows the workers to use food sources far from their nests.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Acromyrmex spp., Leaf caching, Leaf-cutting ants, Task partitioning, Trail length, Acromyrmex, Atta, Formicidae, Fungi, Hymenoptera
Como citar
Sociobiology, v. 42, n. 1, p. 87-91, 2003.