Abstract

PULGARIN DIAZ, John Alexander. SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE NEST STRUCTURE AND COLONY COMPOSITION OF Pseudomyrmex termitarius (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) IN ABELLO ( ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA ) LOCALITY. Rev. Fac. Nac. Agron. Medellín [online]. 2004, vol.57, n.1, pp.2161-2177. ISSN 0304-2847.

Few studies have been conducted on colony composition and nest architecture of Pseudomyrmex species or even in general for the family Formicidae. P. termitarius is one of the two species in this genus that nests in the soil. It has been the subject of few ecological and ethological investigations. In this investigation, the colony composition and nest architecture of P. termitarius was studied in a locality inBello ( Antioquia, Colombia ) and observations were conducted on the in vitro establishment of colonies of the species.  Twenty seven nests were excavated, each one inside cylindrical soil blocks of approximately  35 cm depth and 20 cm diameter. Fifteen of these nests were used to study colony composition; in which all individuals were counted. Eight nests were established under in vitro conditions and were provided different diets. To study the nests structure plaster with water was poured into 12 of the 27 nests, then each nest was dug and the nest structure formed by the plaster separated. Observations were made on the nest architecture. A typical colony of P. termitarius possess a maximum of 297 individuals; the maximum number of workers was 102.  The causes for the absence of a queen in the majority of the nests are discussed and the hypothesis is advanced that the species is polydomous and/or possesses gamergates.  The nest structure for this species is typical of subterranean ant nests, with a maximum of 22 cm in depth and five chambers of approximately 63 cm³.  External nest structure is well known, but internal structure is not.  Of the eight in vitro nests, four survived for 14 months on a diet of Cryptotermes brevis, frozen Drosophilidae imagos, and a water-honey solution.

Keywords : in vitro rearing; gamergates workers; poligynous; underground nest structure; polydomous.

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