Colony composition and specialized predation on millipedes in the enigmatic ponerine ant genus Probolomyrmex (hymenoptera, formicidae)

Abstract

Colonies of Probolomyrmex dammermani Wheeler were collected in West Java, Indonesia. The nests contained a few millipedes of the family Polyxenidae, all of which were completely divested of their coveting setae. Laboratory experiments showed that the ants fed only on polyxenids. The following bionomic characteristics were also noted: colony size was small (14 workers on average; range 8-21) with one dealate queen who was mated and laid eggs; pupae were necked; and both workers and queens had only one ovariole per ovary, which is the lowest ovariole number for ant queens.