Nest-mate recognition cues are not used during or influenced by mating in the antFormica exsecta

Martin, SJ; Shemilt, S; Trontti, K

Abstract

A wide range of mating isolating mechanisms has evolved to avoid mating with close relatives. In mating aggregations that commonly occur in social insects (bees, wasps and ants) sexuals from the same colony can potentially be present, so some type of colony-recognition system would be useful to avoid inbreeding. In the ant Formica exsecta, colony-specific (Z)9-alkene profiles are used by workers to distinguish nest-mates from non-nest-mates, so this information has the potential to be employed in mating behaviour, i.e. to recognise potential mates, avoid inbreeding and indicate mating status. However, in F. exsecta queens, we found no consistent quantitative or qualitative differences in the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles between males and queens, or any changes associated with mating in queens. Neither did the (Z)9-alkene recognition profile appear to be acting as a pre-mating barrier, since successful mating occurred across a wide range of CHC profiles. The main pre-mating barrier in F. exsecta appears to be the sequential production of males followed by queens coupled with a long mating period, a strategy adopted by many social insects.

Citation

Martin, S., Shemilt, S., & Trontti, K. (2014). Nest-mate recognition cues are not used during or influenced by mating in the antFormica exsecta. Ethology Ecology and Evolution, 26(1), 40-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2013.809386

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 19, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Jul 11, 2013
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: May 6, 2014
• Journal: Ethology Ecology & Evolution
• Print ISSN: 0394-9370
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 40-48
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2013.809386
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2013.809386
• Related Public URLs: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/teee20/current#.U2jiSqJRTTo