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Polyergus
''Polyergus'' is a small genus of ants with 14 described species. They are also referred to by the names "Slave-raiding ants" or "Amazon ants". They are characterized by their habit of raiding nests (of Formica) for workers. Reproduction ''Polyergus'' workers are incapable of caring for brood, for the most part due to their dagger-like, piercing mandibles. As such, they have evolved to rely on certain species of ants in the genus ''Formica''. They have lost the instinct for carrying out even rudimentary brood care, and even for feeding themselves (which they are unable to do). ''Polyergus'' 'workers' exist more as a force of improvised soldiers, acting in essence solely to raid the ''Formica'' nests. The captured ants are generally referred to as "slaves" in scientific and popular literature, though recent attempts have been made to apply other human cultural models. Some of these describe the ''Polyergus'' as "raiders", "pirates", or "kidnappers". They also describe the ''Form ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Polyergus Breviceps
''Polyergus breviceps'' is a species of ant endemic to the United States. It is a social parasite of other ants, namely of '' Formica gnava'' but also of '' Formica occulta'' and ''Formica argentea''. ''Polyergus'' is an inquiline parasite, having lost its ability to take care of its young and themselves. "The workers do not forage for food, feed the young or the queen, or even clean up their own nest". To survive, ''Polyergus'' workers raid ''Formica'' nests to steal the pupae—which, once hatched, become workers of the mixed nest. This sort of relationship is not unique, of the approximately 8,800 species of ants, at least 200 have evolved some form of symbiotic relationship with one another. What makes ''Polyergus'' special is the way a newly mated queen can, all by herself, take over a ''Formica'' nest and start a new colony. Slave raids and colony takeovers ''Polyergus'' workers emerge from their nest (a mixed nest where ''Formica'' workers are already enslaved) and forage ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Polyergus Rufescens
''Polyergus rufescens'' is a species of slave-making ant native to southern Europe and parts of Asia, commonly referred to as the European Amazon ant or as the slave-making ant. It is an obligatory social parasite, unable to feed itself or look after the colony and reliant on ants of another species to undertake these tasks. To replenish these servant ants, it raids nearby ant colonies and carries home pupae and larvae, and these are reared to provide future workers for the colony. A newly mated female ''P. rufescens'' needs to make its way into one of these "host" nests, kill the host queen, and be accepted by the host workers in her place. Description ''P. rufescens'' workers in western and southwestern Europe are dark red, while eastern specimens are more orange-red. Darker ants often have a purplish or brownish tinge to their gasters and appendages. Morphologically, ants of this species are similar to the Mexican ''Polyergus topoffi'', but have narrower heads and petioles ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
