Temperature limits to trailing activity in the Australian arid-zone meat ant Iridomyrmex pupureus form viridiaeneus
Greenaway, P.
Australian Journal of Zoology 29(4): 621-630
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-959X DOI: 10.1071/zo9810621
Accession: 000997625
Trailing activity is restricted to the hours of daylight and is further limited by the temperature of the air surrounding the ant (Ta) and by the net radiant heat load. Activity in winter begins well after sunrise and continues until late afternoon averaging .apprx. 7.4 h per day. Midsummer activity occupies 2 distinct periods, 1 commencing at dawn and the other in late afternoon; the 2 together total about 6.8 h per day. The upper and lower values of Ta between which ants are active are 43.5.degree. and 14.degree. C. Radiant heat input is dissipated from the ants by convective heat loss.