Mating and post-mating behaviour of the european amazon ant, polyergus rufescens (Hymenoptera, formicidae)

Abstract

The mating and post-mating behaviour of reproductives belonging to three sympatric dulotic colonies of the obligatory slave-making ant Polyergus rufescens Latr. (the «Amazon») were analysed in the field near Parma (Italy) every day during the summer of 1992. Forty-two nuptial flights (of males, females, or both) were recorded, generally in sunny and hot early afternoons. Our observations show that the European amazon ant adopts a reproductive behaviour (similar to the «female calling syndrome») more diverse than that performed by the two American congeneric species. The results indicate that P. rufescens females (i) mate on the ground around their natal nest, or (it) return to a dulotic colony after mating flights and wait for a raid, or (iit) mate directly during a raid. Because of the nonindependent mode of colony foundation typical of the obligatory slave-makers, the following of a slave-raid swarm by newly inseminated young queens is considered an advantageous strategy to locate and invade host nests and to establish a new dulotic colony. © 1994 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.