Social organization of meat ants iridomyrmex purpureus analyzed by gel electrophoresis of enzymes
Halliday, R.B.
Insectes Sociaux 30(1): 45-56
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0020-1812 DOI: 10.1007/bf02225656
Accession: 006430274
Several polymorphic allozyme loci (amylase, esterase-1, esterase-3) were used as genetic markers for the analysis of some aspects of social behavior in 2 color forms (actually sibling species) of meat ants, D. purpureus. Haploid males are probably produced from eggs laid by the queen, and not by the workers. A substantial proportion of colonies of both I. purpureus s.s., and the blue form of meat ants, may contain more than 1 queen. In I. purpureus s.s., colony organization is flexible, ranging from small, territorially distinct colonies in which the workers are recognizable genetically as single family units, to very large multi-nest colonies with considerable exchange of workers bewtween nests. This flexibility is a response to the variable types of habitat in which this form of meat ant occurs.