Colony composition in the Oriental ectatommine ant, Gnamptogenys menadensis in Peninsular Malaysia

• Main Authors: Ito, Fuminori, Hashim, Rosli, Gobin, Bruno
• Format: Article
• Published: Penerbit Universiti Malaysia Sabah 2021
• Subjects: GE Environmental Sciences; QL Zoology
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/35381/

Reproductive organization and mode of propagation in social insects can vary under different environmental conditions. To test this hypothesis, colony composition of Gnamptogenys menadensis was investigated in 38 colonies from Ulu Gombak, a tropical rain forest zone in Peninsular Malaysia, and compared to earlier data from Karaenta, a tropical monsoon zone in Sulawesi. As in Karaenta, both dealate queens and gamergates (mated egg laying workers) reproduced in Ulu Gombak. Coexistence of dealate queens and gamergates was never observed. The proportion of queen colonies in Ulu Gombak was similar to that in Karaenta, indicating that the occurrence of distinctive dry season in Karaenta does not affect colony reproductive strategies. Based on colony composition and dissection data, the colony life cycle in Ulu Gombak is postulated.