Search results for "cavity-nesting ant"
showing 4 items of 4 documents
Nest modifications by the acorn ant Temnothorax crassispinus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
2019
Many ant species construct nests and during the process considerably influence the environment such as by changing soil structure and creating new habitat for other species. However, other ant species dwell in ready-for-use cavities. Ants of the genus Temnothorax inhabit small cavities such as acorns and under rocks, but under natural conditions, good nest sites are limited resources. During field and laboratory experiments, I studied how the acorn ant Temnothorax crassispinus (Karawajew, 1926) modifies nesting sites. Temnothorax crassispinus is a forest species, which typically lives in cavities in fallen twigs and acorns; colonies usually number from a few dozen to about 200 workers. Alth…
High winter survival rate of acorn ants inside artificial nest sites (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
2022
Although most species of ants overwinter underground to avoid low temperatures, the acorn ants of the genus Temnothorax remain in nests situated at ground level. During a field experiment, I studied the winter mortality of acorn ants in nest sites situated aboveground, as well as in sites experimentally buried in the soil. Despite the low air temperatures (even reaching –19°C, recorded 1.5 m above the ground), the survivorship was very high: all of the 18 queens used in the experiment survived, while the survival rate of workers was 61.9-100%, and for most colonies it exceeded 95%. The rate of survival in the nest sites aboveground and those experimentally buried in the soil was similar. Su…
Acorn Ants May Create and Use Two Entrances to the Nest Cavity
2021
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 …
Invasive Northern red oaks benefit temnothorax crassispinus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) ant colonies
2018
Non-native plant species can modify their environment, and their influence on food chains is well recognized. How ever, the phenomenon of non-nutrient dependent interaction between non-native plants and native animals has received little attention to date. The Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) is a non-native, invasive tree species in Europe, which strongly negatively influences co-occurring plants. However, a part of the native fauna is able to utilize the resources offered by this species in its non-native range. We studied a common species of wood ant, Temnothorax crassispinus, in forests under canopies of non-native Northern Red Oak and native oaks, Pedunculate Oak (Q. robur), and Sessil…