4 replies to this topic

[OhNoNotAgain]

https://www.newscien...er-in-one-nest/

Kind of unusual to read about two species that may be mutualistic.
In this case Platythyrea conradti builds and the much smaller Strumigenys maynei acts as small yappy guard dog.

[Antkeeper01]

interesting

[ConcordAntman]

Interesting! This may not be an uncommon occurrence. Last summer I came upon two species of widely divergent size in my patio that appeared to be cooperatively foraging to the point of the smaller species venturing un-challenged, into the larger species’ nest. I couldn’t believe this hadn’t sparked an all out war. It got me to reading and I came upon this paper:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/3565636

 

I summarized it here: https://www.formicul...orage/?p=160173

It’s a small step from positioning one’s colony nearby for cooperative foraging to cohabitation. 

Edited by ConcordAntman, July 25 2021 - 5:56 PM.

[cap_backfire]

Super interesting.   Hmmm...   Wonder what all the benefits are.   

[ConcordAntman]

In regards to the paper, starting with the three broad hierarchical groups; territorials (who protect their nest, food resources, and territory), encounterers (who protect their nest and food resources), and submissives (who protect only their nest). Submissives find protection and potentially access to food resources the territorials by living near territorials since the territorials control the space while the territorials don’t perceive the submissives as a threat. The same isn’t true for the encounterers since there would be conflict with territorials over food resources, but the encounterers and submissives could coexist and still gain an element of protection while not being perceived as a threat. Two submissives could also coexist and share food resources.