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Two different ant species that may actually help each other


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#1 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted July 24 2021 - 10:35 PM

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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.
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Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus, vicinus, quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and previously californicus

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.


#2 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted July 24 2021 - 10:39 PM

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interesting


1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

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#3 Offline ConcordAntman - Posted July 25 2021 - 11:46 AM

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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.


#4 Offline cap_backfire - Posted July 29 2021 - 7:15 AM

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



#5 Offline ConcordAntman - Posted July 29 2021 - 4:51 PM

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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.


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