Effects of gaster extract trail concentration on the trail following behaviour of the Argentine ant, Iridomyrmex humilis (Mayr)

S. E. Van Vorhis Key, L. K. Gaston, Thomas Charles Baker

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33 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the Argentine ant, optimum trail following to gaster extracts was displayed to 0.1 and 1.0 equivalents/50 cm of circular trail. Trail following to airborne components was demonstrated when ants exhibited normal trail following behaviour while walking 3 or 6 mm below a 0.1 ant equivalent trail. However, at 8 or 12 mm separation, following ceased, indicating that the height of the active space was ca. 6-8 mm. The average horizontal distance from the centre of the trail at which ants exhibited following behaviour increased with concentration to 3-4 mm beyond the applied trail boundaries, indicating both an ability to follow airborne chemicals, and possibly a non-tolerance of excessively high concentration. Activity of 0.1 ant equivalent trails on filter paper declined to about half the original level by four hours; after eight hours, responses were significantly different from, but almost as low as, solvent controls.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalJournal of Insect Physiology
Volume27
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1981

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Physiology
  • Insect Science

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