Ant wars: combat strategies, territory and nest defence in the leaf-cutting ant Atta laevigata
Article Abstract:
The leaf-cutting ants, Atta laevigata, recruit soldiers to combat large organisms but tackle conspecific and interspecific ant threats by recruiting small ants in large numbers. A. laevigata prefer established marked trails during intraspecific interactions between adjacent nests. They retreat to the nest entrance and mark the battle site with their Dufour's gland secretion. The defence of one resource such as food may develop into defence of another resource such as the nest. The combat strategies are studied using a simulated vertebrate disturbance.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1996
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How to become a good ant-soldier: the effect of solicitation by minors on the development of aggressive behaviour in soldiers
Article Abstract:
The development of defense behavior in soldiers of the Mediterranean ant Pheidole pallidula was studied during the callow stage. Early and simultaneous occurrence of guarding brood chambers was observed in all groups. Defense behavior developed over 17 days or more in a colony with mixed 1-day-old callow and three mature soldiers. Slow development of defense behavior may be due to competition from mature majors and preferential solicitations of minors towards mature soldiers which increase slowly with ageing.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1992
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Experience influences male-male contests in the spider Argyrodes antipodiana (Theridiidae: Araneae)
Article Abstract:
A study was conducted to determine whether the spider Argyrodes antipodiana's body mass and contest experience have an effect on male-male fights over access to females. Results showed large male spiders without a fighting experience were likely to escalate contests than smaller males. Moreover, winning spiders were more likely to win their subsequent contests against those of the same size with losing experience.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1997
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