Characterization of recruitment through tandem running in an Indian queenless ant Diacamma indicum.

ABSTRACT: Tandem running is a primitive recruitment method employed by many ant genera. This study characterizes this behaviour during the recruitment of colony mates to a new nest in an Indian ant Diacamma indicum. Tandem leaders who have knowledge of the new nest lead a single follower at a time, to the destination by maintaining physical contact. In order to characterize tandem running, we captured and analysed 621 invitations, 217 paths and 226 termination events. Remarkably, not a single colony member was lost. While invitations were stereotypic in behaviour, termination was not. Analysis of speed revealed that the average transport speed was 4.2 cm s^-1. Coupled adult-brood transport was slower than other transports but was more efficient than individual trips. Comparing tande

SUBMITTER: Kaur R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5319314 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature