Metadata language
Reaction of the territorial wood ant Formica polyctena Latreille to corpses of its neighbours
Subtitle:Reaction of Formica polyctena to corpses of its neighbours ; Reakcja terytorialnej mrówki rudnicy (Formica polyctena Latreille) na ciała martwych sąsiadów
Creator:
Maák, István Elek
;
Bán, Kata Anna
;
Lőrincz, Ádám
Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Place of publishing: Date issued/created: Description: Type of object: Subject and Keywords:Formica fusca ; Formica sanguinea ; Formica truncorum ; reaction to corpses ; signal of threat ; prophylactic behaviour ; aggressiveness
Abstract:
In ant colonies, the corpses of dead nestmates can serve multiple functions, including marking territorial boundaries, providing a supplementary protein source during periods of food scarcity, and exerting intimidating effects on potential competitors. To fulfil these functions, ant corpses need to be reliably recognized and discriminated, as different corpses may indicate different types and levels of threat. Corpse discrimination has been investigated in species occupying different positions within the dominance hierarchy, but remains unexplored in territorial species, such as wood ants. To fill this knowledge gap, here we investigated the responses to corpses of different types in the red wood ant Formica polyctena Latreille. Five experimental colony fragments were maintained under laboratory conditions and presented with five types of corpses: nestmates, conspecifics, Formica fusca Linnaeus, F. sanguinea Latreille, and F. truncorum Fabricius. Our results suggest that the studied wood ant species readily discriminates among different types of corpses. The most aggressive reactions were induced by the slave-maker F. sanguinea, followed by the conspecific, territorial F. polyctena corpses. The corpse removal rate of the subordinate F. fusca was substantial, suggesting that these corpses may function as prey items for the colonies. Corpses of F. truncorum elicited low levels of aggression but high levels of corpse-carrying, whereas responses toward nestmate corpses were minimal. Overall, our results suggest that the territorial and highly dominant wood ant F. polyctena is capable of discriminating among corpses of different origins and shows specific responses to them. These responses appear to be context-dependent and are shaped by intra- and interspecific competitive relationships.
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Fragmenta Faunistica 2026, 69: 1
Volume: Issue: Start page: End page: Resource type: Detailed Resource Type: Resource Identifier:10.3161/00159301FF2026.69.1.11
Source:MiIZ PAN, call no. P.256 ; MiIZ PAN, call no. P.4664
Language: Rights:Creative Commons Attribution BY 4.0 license
Terms of use:Copyright-protected material. [CC BY 4.0] May be used within the scope specified in Creative Commons Attribution BY 4.0 license, full text available at: ; -
Digitizing institution:Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Original in:Library of the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences
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