6533b7dcfe1ef96bd1272a92
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Acorn Ants May Create and Use Two Entrances to the Nest Cavity
Sławomir Mitrussubject
Temnothoraxbiology<i>Temnothorax crassispinus</i>EcologyScienceTemnothorax crassispinusfungiQfood and beveragesmultiple entrances; nest cavitymultiple entrancesAnt colonybiochemical phenomena metabolism and nutritioncavity-nesting antbiology.organism_classificationAcornArticlenest siteTemnothorax crassispinusNestInsect Sciencenest cavityentrance modificationNest siteLimited resourcesdescription
Many ant species construct large nests that are inhabited by numerous workers, but other species dwell in ready-for-use cavities and live in small colonies. Ants of the genus Temnothorax inhabit small cavities, e.g., in acorns, twigs, and under rocks. Although a preference for nest sites with a narrower entrance is known, recent studies have shown that they also use cavities with wider entrances and may modify the size of such entrances. As good cavities for nest sites are a limited resource, the possibility to modify a potential nest site, including a reduction in the size of the hole, should be a favorable matter for the ants. Through field and laboratory experiments, I studied the acorn ant Temnothorax crassispinus. Observations showed that they readily inhabited imperfect cavities and, if necessary, modified the holes to such cavities. If they had to repair a nest site, they sometimes created a second entrance
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-10-01 | Insects |