2 replies to this topic

[Vendayn]

The Pheidole megacephala colony that is inside my apartment complex seems to be killing their own workers and soldiers. They are fighting Argentine ants (and easily winning at that), but at same time I saw one soldier being torn apart and same with a worker. It seems to be very few being killed (only saw two), the vast majority are the same as usual.

 

Is there a reason they'd actually be fighting each other within their same colony? Are they starting to break apart (from being separated by roads) into their own individual colonies? I haven't seen this in other locations of their colony boundaries though, just this one area. 

 

Or could it be anything to do with the season? I recall seeing this behavior before, and if I recall I'm pretty sure it was during Winter. Still even then, I'd think I'd see this behavior in other parts of their colony as well. Its strange they are killing their own.

 

Anyone have any ideas why they may be killing their own?

[Joehostile85]

Could be that the ants are getting confused during the skirmish. Maybe one of the ants attacking the other species of ant got covered in that ants pheromones. Then the ants own sisters thinks it’s an intruder so starts attacking it.

Perhaps an ant tried to bite the leg of an intruder ant but Accidentally bit the leg of one of her sisters.

[Vendayn]

Could be that the ants are getting confused during the skirmish. Maybe one of the ants attacking the other species of ant got covered in that ants pheromones. Then the ants own sisters thinks it’s an intruder so starts attacking it.

Perhaps an ant tried to bite the leg of an intruder ant but Accidentally bit the leg of one of her sisters.

I think I actually came to the conclusion it was either or a mix of these answers...

 

-Not enough food (since it is Winter now). The most obvious answer so probably most likely.

-Too dry. When I posted this the area was really dry, and since most of the others they are in are pretty damp from irrigation, could explain why it was only this area they killed each other. Since now the area stays wet longer and at the same time they are doing more irrigation, the attacks on each other stopped.

-too cold. But not as likely since its still really cold and they are back to normal.

-Something with the toxicity of the road. They very recently (last month) paved all the roads and this could have done something to the ants and (as you pointed out) their pheromones. This could be pretty likely as the road still seems really gross and still has that toxic smell. I dunno if any studies have been done on ants and freshly paved roads.

-Something with the paint they used, as they painted some of the concrete (for the fire department no parking thing) and all the paint is where the ants use to travel along the sidewalk/road.

Edited by Vendayn, November 20 2018 - 2:54 PM.