Mating Behavior of the African Weaver Ant, Oecophylla longinoda(Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Authors

  • Wilson Angelo Nene A PhD student, Sokoine University of Agriculture
  • Gratian Mutashoberwa Rwegasira Lecturer, Sokoine University of Agriculture
  • Joachim Offenberg Lecturer, Aarhus University
  • Maulid Mwatawala Lecturer, Sokoine University of Agriculture
  • Mogens Nielsen Lecturer, Aarhus University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v62i3.650

Keywords:

Mating behavior, nuptial flight, weaver ant rearing, Oecophylla longinoda, Tanzania.

Abstract

Mating in most species of ants occurs during nuptial flights. In the African weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda Latreille, mating has previously been hypothesized to take place within the nest before the nuptial flight. However, several researchers disagree with this supposition particularly with reference to the closely related species Oecopylla smaragdina (Fabricius) whose mating occur during nuptial flights. Understanding the mating strategy of O. longinoda is of importance for its successful application in biological control programs. We conducted field and screen house experiments during two mating seasons to determine whether the mating occur prior to the dispersal flight. We examined winged O. longinoda queens on the nest surface before taking flight, immediately after leaving the nest, up to twelve hours (12h) after leaving the nest and after settling naturally following the dispersal flights. Mating in captivity between different number of males and queens were also assessed. Only eggs produced by queens (N=65) collected after their natural settling hatched into larvae. No eggs hatched from any of the 527 winged queens that were collected prior to their dispersal flights and no mating attempts in captivity lead to viable offspring. Findings from the current study suggest that mating of O. longinoda queens take place during a nuptial flight and does not take place within the nest, as previously suggested.

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Author Biographies

Wilson Angelo Nene, A PhD student, Sokoine University of Agriculture

A PhD student

Gratian Mutashoberwa Rwegasira, Lecturer, Sokoine University of Agriculture

Crop science and production, Senior Lecturer

Joachim Offenberg, Lecturer, Aarhus University

Department of Bioscience, Senior Lecturer

Maulid Mwatawala, Lecturer, Sokoine University of Agriculture

Crop science and production, Professor

Mogens Nielsen, Lecturer, Aarhus University

Bioscience, Professor

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Published

2015-09-30

How to Cite

Nene, W. A., Rwegasira, G. M., Offenberg, J., Mwatawala, M., & Nielsen, M. (2015). Mating Behavior of the African Weaver Ant, Oecophylla longinoda(Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology, 62(3), 396–400. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v62i3.650

Issue

Vol. 62 No. 3 (2015)

Section

Research Article - Ants

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