Trophobiosis in the arboricolous ant Liometopum microcephalum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae)
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2013 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | European Journal of Entomology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | Hymenoptera; Formicidae; Dolichoderinae; Liometopum; arboricolous; ants; trophobiosis; foraging; honeydew |
| Description | From spring to summer 2009 Liometopum microcephalum workers ascending and descending were collected from nest and foraging trees at a locality in South Moravia (Czechia). Mass of their gasters and their content of total and reducing sugars were measured using chemical (photometric) methods. Differences in gaster mass confirmed the flow of liquid food from foraging to nest trees, but there were no siginficant between-month differences. Contents of total and reducing sugars were positively correlated with gaster mass. The gasters of workers descending from foraging trees contained significantly more reducing sugars than those of workers descending or ascending nest trees. The content of reducing sugars was lowest at the beginning of the ants' activity period in April and highest in June, with a non-significant drop in July. Results for total sugars were similar, with the decrease in July being significant. The concentration of sugars in the gasters of workers ascending and descending nest trees did not differ significantly but the absolute content of total sugars was higher in the gasters of ascending ants. Results from foraging trees confirmed that the ants collected honeydew from these trees. Possible reasons for the ambiguous results for nest trees are discussed. We conclude that trophobiosis is an important component of the nutritional biology of L. microcephalum, which has been hitherto considered a predominantly predatory species. |
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