Predatory behavior and chemical communication in two Metapone species (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)

Bert Hölldobler; Neil J. Oldham; Gary D. Alpert; Jürgen Liebig

doi:10.1007/s00012-002-8340-7

Predatory behavior and chemical communication in two Metapone species (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)

Bert Hölldobler, Neil J. Oldham, Gary D. Alpert, Jürgen Liebig

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Colonies of two species of Metapone (M. madagascarica, M. new species.) were collected in Madagascar and established in laboratory nests. It could be demonstrated that both species are specialist predators of termites (Cryptotermes kirbyi). During hunting the ants sting the termites and thereby paralyze and preserve the prey alive. In this way prey can be stored in the ant nest for extended periods. During foraging and colony emigrations the ants lay chemical trails with poison gland secretions. Among the seven compounds identified in the venom only methyl pyrrole-2-carboxylate elicits trail following behavior in both Metapone species.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	147-151
Number of pages	5
Journal	Chemoecology
Volume	12
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00012-002-8340-7
State	Published - 2002
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Poison gland
Prey storage
Pyrrole derivative
Termite predation
Trail pheromone

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Biochemistry

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10.1007/s00012-002-8340-7

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title = "Predatory behavior and chemical communication in two Metapone species (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)",

abstract = "Colonies of two species of Metapone (M. madagascarica, M. new species.) were collected in Madagascar and established in laboratory nests. It could be demonstrated that both species are specialist predators of termites (Cryptotermes kirbyi). During hunting the ants sting the termites and thereby paralyze and preserve the prey alive. In this way prey can be stored in the ant nest for extended periods. During foraging and colony emigrations the ants lay chemical trails with poison gland secretions. Among the seven compounds identified in the venom only methyl pyrrole-2-carboxylate elicits trail following behavior in both Metapone species.",

keywords = "Poison gland, Prey storage, Pyrrole derivative, Termite predation, Trail pheromone",

author = "Bert H{\"o}lldobler and Oldham, \{Neil J.\} and Alpert, \{Gary D.\} and J{\"u}rgen Liebig",

note = "Funding Information: Emile Rajeriarison and Pascal Rabeson provided expert field assistance in locating Metapone colonies in Madagascar. Benjamin Andriamihaja of the Madagascar Institute pour la Conservation des Ecosyst{\`e}mes Tropicaux (MICET) provided assistance in obtaining research collecting and export permits. Malu Obermayer provided technical assistance in the laboratory. This study was supported by a grant from the German Science Foundation, SFB 554. Voucher Specimens of both Metapone species were deposited in the ant collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Ma, USA. Copyright: Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2002",

doi = "10.1007/s00012-002-8340-7",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "12",

pages = "147--151",

journal = "Chemoecology",

issn = "0937-7409",

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AU - Hölldobler, Bert

AU - Oldham, Neil J.

AU - Alpert, Gary D.

AU - Liebig, Jürgen

N1 - Funding Information: Emile Rajeriarison and Pascal Rabeson provided expert field assistance in locating Metapone colonies in Madagascar. Benjamin Andriamihaja of the Madagascar Institute pour la Conservation des Ecosystèmes Tropicaux (MICET) provided assistance in obtaining research collecting and export permits. Malu Obermayer provided technical assistance in the laboratory. This study was supported by a grant from the German Science Foundation, SFB 554. Voucher Specimens of both Metapone species were deposited in the ant collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Ma, USA. Copyright: Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - Colonies of two species of Metapone (M. madagascarica, M. new species.) were collected in Madagascar and established in laboratory nests. It could be demonstrated that both species are specialist predators of termites (Cryptotermes kirbyi). During hunting the ants sting the termites and thereby paralyze and preserve the prey alive. In this way prey can be stored in the ant nest for extended periods. During foraging and colony emigrations the ants lay chemical trails with poison gland secretions. Among the seven compounds identified in the venom only methyl pyrrole-2-carboxylate elicits trail following behavior in both Metapone species.

AB - Colonies of two species of Metapone (M. madagascarica, M. new species.) were collected in Madagascar and established in laboratory nests. It could be demonstrated that both species are specialist predators of termites (Cryptotermes kirbyi). During hunting the ants sting the termites and thereby paralyze and preserve the prey alive. In this way prey can be stored in the ant nest for extended periods. During foraging and colony emigrations the ants lay chemical trails with poison gland secretions. Among the seven compounds identified in the venom only methyl pyrrole-2-carboxylate elicits trail following behavior in both Metapone species.

KW - Poison gland

KW - Prey storage

KW - Pyrrole derivative

KW - Termite predation

KW - Trail pheromone

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Predatory behavior and chemical communication in two Metapone species (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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