Studying Kin Conflict in the Elongate Twig Ant (Pseudomyrmex gracilis)

Volker Schmid, PhD student

University of Regensburg, Germany

My research topic is the social behaviour of ants, especially conflicts among members of the same colony. Because all ants within a colony are related to each other to a more or less high degree, each colony can be regarded as a kind of family. As in human families, conflicts may arise between individuals within a colony over certain matters: e.g. how many resources should be invested in the production of either female or male sexuals (those ants which spread out and reproduce, the females eventually founding new colonies); or who produces the male offspring, which is not necessarily only the queen. In the absence of a queen, evolutionary theory predicts that worker ants begin laying eggs which develop into males (workers usually cannot produce female offspring).

Elongate twig ant sucking honey placed on a leaf in the field (Curry Hammock State Park)

I will be testing this evolutionary theory on the Elongate Twig Ant (Pseudomyrmex gracilis). Native to Mexico, this species invaded Florida during the second half of the 20^th century and can be found today at many locations in disturbed habitats or habitat edges (e.g. along roadsides). Using the Keys Marine Lab as my base of operations, I have collected colonies from various locations throughout the Florida Keys (Long Key State Park, Curry Hammock State Park, and Fort Zachery Taylor State Park). Captured colonies will be taken to Germany where I will continue observations of the social interactions and kin conflict of these ants.