Pollenivory in ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) seems to be much more common than it was thought

• Autorzy: Czechowski W. , Marko B. , Eros K. , Csata E.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

So far, besides some specialised Neotropical ant species of the genus Cephalotes Latr., the Palaearctic Myrmica schencki Viereck, M. rubra (L.) and Tetramorium cf. caespitum (L.) were known to be, at least facultative, pollen-eaters. The present paper reports on nine other common Palaearctic ant species occasionally feeding on pine pollen: Myrmica ruginodis Nyl., F. pratensis Retz., F. cinerea Mayr, F. clara For., F. sanguinea Latr., F. exsecta Nyl., Lasius niger (L.), L. platythorax Seifert, and L. fuliginosus (Latr.) and re-confirms pollenivory of M. schencki. Pollenivory of all these species was revealed based on the presence of pollen grains in the alimentary canal of the dissected workers. The possible role of pollen in the diet of ants as a generally omnivorous insect group is discussed.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

pollenivory; ant; food; foraging; Hymenoptera; Formicidae; Cephalotes; pollen-eating ant

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Annales Zoologici
• Rocznik: 2011
• Tom: 61
• Numer: 3
• Opis fizyczny: p.519-525,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Czechowski W.

• Laboratory of Social and Myrmecophilous Insects, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00-679 Warsaw, Poland

autor

Marko B.

• Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Babes-Bolyai University, Clinicilor str. 5-7, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

autor

Eros K.

• Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Babes-Bolyai University, Clinicilor str. 5-7, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

autor

Csata E.

• Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Babes-Bolyai University, Clinicilor str. 5-7, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

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