Social Parasitism Among Ants at the E.S. George Reserve in Southern Michigan

Abstract

*[The following types of parasitism are found the Edwin S. George Reserve. (1) Dulosis, a kind of life in which workers of one species raid colonies of another species to bring back larvae & pupae that are reared to form a mixed colony where the imported "slaves" forage for food, build the nest, & care for the young, while the host workers carry on repeated raids. Dulotic ants may be facultative or obligate parasites. In the former the host colony can survive if deprived of its slaves, while in the latter host workers cannot feed themselves or care for their young & so are completely dependent on the slaves. (2) Temporary social parasitism. In this form a newly fertilized queen cannot establish a colony by herself, so she must seek entrance into a nest of related species & induce the workers to care for her first broods. Normally the host queen is killed, & since no more host workers are produced a pure colony made up of offspring of the invading queen is eventually established. (3) Inquilinism. Here 2 different species live together permanently with one usually taking advantage of the other in some way. In addition to providing nest shelter, the host ant may feed the inquilines or even take over the rearing of their brood. This may lead to what is considered the ultimate form of parasitism, in which the worker class has been eliminated during evolution & only the alates remain. Females live constantly in the nest of the host species & each year all eggs produced develop into males & females. The only time females face a hostile environment is when they come to the surface to mate & then must seek out & penetrate another host colony.]