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Feeding behavior and social interactions of the Argentine ant Linepithema humile change with sucrose concentration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2016

F.J. Sola  and
R. Josens
F.J. Sola
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IFIBYNE, CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria Pab. II, (C1428 EHA) Buenos Aires, Argentina
R. Josens*
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IFIBYNE, CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria Pab. II, (C1428 EHA) Buenos Aires, Argentina
*
*Author for correspondence Phone: +54 11 4576 3445 Fax: +54 11 4576 3447 E-mail: roxy@bg.fcen.uba.ar
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Abstract

Liquid sugar baits are well accepted by the Argentine ant Linepithema humile and are suitable for the chemical control of this invasive species. We evaluated how sugar concentrations affect the foraging behavior of L. humile individuals. We quantified feeding variables for individual foragers (ingested load, feeding time and solution intake rate) when feeding on sucrose solutions of different concentrations, as well as post-feeding interactions with nestmates. Solutions of intermediate sucrose concentrations (10–30%) were the most consumed and had the highest intake rates, whereas solutions of high sucrose concentrations (60 and 70%) resulted in extended feeding times, low intake rates and ants having smaller crop loads. In terms of post-feeding interactions, individuals fed solutions of intermediate sucrose concentrations (20%) had the highest probability of conducting trophallaxis and the smallest latency to drop exposure (i.e. lowest time delay). Trophallaxis duration increased with increasing sucrose concentrations. Behavioral motor displays, including contacts with head jerking and walking with a gaster waggle, were lowest for individuals that ingested the more dilute sucrose solution (5%). These behaviors have been previously suggested to act as a communication channel for the activation and/or recruitment of nestmates. We show here that sucrose concentration affects feeding dynamics and modulates decision making related to individual behavior and social interactions of foragers. Our results indicate that intermediate sucrose concentrations (ca. 20%), appear to be most appropriate for toxic baits because they promote rapid foraging cycles, a high crop load per individual, and a high degree of stimulation for recruitment.

Keywords

argentine antTrophallaxisintake ratefeeding behaviorforagingNectivorous ants
Type
Research Papers
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 106 , Issue 4 , August 2016 , pp. 522 - 529
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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