Effects of Queen Body Parts on the Production of New Sexuals in the Pharaoh's Ant, Monomorium pharaonis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
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Date
2005
Authors
Lee, Chow Yang
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Abstract
The effects of the presence of queen body parts on the production
of new sexuals in the Pharaoh's ant, Monomorium pharaonis were
determined in this study. Whole live queens, whole dead queens and
queen's thorax. head and gaster were used respectively in ant colonies
consisting of300-400 workers and 0.5 g of brood. Reproductives started
emerging at day 57 after initiation of the experiment. Results showed
that replicates with live queens were the slowest to produce sexuals. By
day 64. only queenless replicates showed inSignificant difference with
the queenright colonies. At day 85, replicates with queen's gasters were
not sIgnificantly different from the queenrIght and queenless colonIes.
causing the authors to suggest that suppression pheromones could be
stored in the queen's gaster. Production of male alates was irregular
throughout the entire 15 weeks of experiment. We hypothesize that a
male alate could inseminate more than one virgin queen in its life.
Keywords: Monomorium pharaonis, queen, pheromones.