Division of labour; Myrmica rubra; Necrophoresis; Social; Immunity; Social insect; Task specialization
Résumé :
[en] The division of labour plays a major role in the success of social insects. For instance, through social prophylaxis, the spread of pathogens within the colony can be reduced if corpse removal is the concern of a specialized group of ants. However, in relatively small colonies, the number of dead individuals and the amount of waste may be too low to justify a specialized group of corpse carriers. We examined the corpse removal habits of the common red ant, Myrmica rubra. Ants acting as corpse carriers were not strictly specialized in corpse management, but split their time between disposing of the dead and foraging. Some corpse-carrying individuals, however, developed a short-term specialization by making several successive corpse transports. Corpse carriers limited cross-contamination by remaining mostly outside the nest and congregating near the nest entrance when resting inside.
Disciplines :
Entomologie & lutte antiravageur
Auteur, co-auteur :
Diez, Lise; Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB > Unit of Social Ecology
Le Borgne, Hélène
Lejeune, Philippe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels
Detrain, Claire
Langue du document :
Anglais
Titre :
Who brings out the dead ? Necrophoresis in the red ant, Myrmica rubra
Date de publication/diffusion :
2013
Titre du périodique :
Animal Behaviour
ISSN :
0003-3472
eISSN :
1095-8282
Maison d'édition :
Academic Press, London, Royaume-Uni
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed vérifié par ORBi
Organisme subsidiant :
FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture Fonds David et Alice van Buuren F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique
Commentaire :
We thank Professor Tom Collett and Dr Paul Graham for their insightful comments on the manuscript.
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