Behavioural,chemical and ecological interactions between West African ants and termites

Abstract

A survey of southern Guinea Savanna at Mokwa, Nigeria revealed the presence of 63 species of ants; 5tti were recorded as being predators of termites. The majority of these ants were opportunist predators.The two obligate termite predators, Meganonera foetens (Fab.) and pecamorium uel.ense (Santschi) showed specific adaptations in their recruitment and foraging regimes to secure their prey. Wacrotermes hel.licosus (Sm.) and Ce.ontotermes spp. were the main prey of IH.foetens and Microter.-.:es spp. of D.uelense. Both ant species used a scout ant to locate foraging termites. M.foetens scouts then recruited columns cf 200-500 ants which were guided by the scout ant to the termites ¢.tong scent trails originating from the poison (,land. D.uelense scouts recruited small groups of ants which attacked and immobilized their prey; a miss recruitment phase then occurred to secure the prey.The scout ants of ti.foetens located foraging termites through chemical cues contained in the protective soil sheeting over their prey. The chemical cues were solvent extractable and originated from the anterior region of worker termites. Chemicals were also involved in the coordination of attacks on termites. Ants finding groups of termites release alkyl sulphide pheromones from their mandibular glands which attract sister workers who dig, in response to other pheromones, into the termite galleries.The specialized predator, M.foetens, took 141 M.bellicosus per square metre per year and 42 Odontoterr:es spp. per square metre per year. With a termite standing population of i23 M.bellic:osus and 260 Odontotermes spp. per square metre, M.foetens can turn over the worker-soldier copulation of these two species in 0.9 and 6.2 years respectively. Other Macrotermitinae accounted for only a small proportion of the prey (7 Ancistrcter:nes, 3 Microterres and < 1 iiacroternes subh alinus per square metro per year). It uas concluded that the efficiency of predation on different termite species was controlled through termite foraging regimes and density, the response of ants to termite soldier defence secretions and the responses of termites to ant secretions.The repellent responses of termites to ants were partially controlled through glandular secretions from the predator. Successful specialised predators, such as D.neirnse, produce non-repellent compounds (aliphatic alcohols) in their mandibular glands, whereas less successful opportunist predators produce compounds (aliphatic ketonos, aldehydes and alkyl pyrazines) which are repellent to termites. it was concluded that inter-specific pressures were one of the reasons for the great diversity of exocrine secretions in the Formicidaa.

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