ASIAN
MYRMECOLOGY

DOI: 10.20362/am.010011
Asian Myrmecology 10: e010011 (1-11)
article first published online 02/August/2018

Evidence of predation in two species of the Colobopsis cylindrica group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Camponotini)

HERBERT ZETTEL¹, ALICE LACINY^{1, 5*}, WEEYAWAT JAITRONG², SYAUKANI SYAUKANI³, ALEXEY KOPCHINSKIY⁴ & IRINA S. DRUZHININA⁴

Abstract:

The complex ecology and nutrition of “exploding” ants of the Colobopsis cylindrica group (COCY) is still poorly understood. Hitherto, this group of ants was thought to feed mainly on phylloplane biofilms with only scarce observations of carnivorous behaviour. This study focusses on observations and behavioural experiments conducted on Colobopsis badia and Colobopsis leonardi, two species native to Thailand. In experiments with C. leonardi, we investigated recognition and acceptance of diverse arthropod prey, as well as its mode of transport into the nest. In addition, preliminary data on C. badia were collected. We present the first recorded instances of predation for these species and discuss our findings in the light of previously published hypotheses on COCY nutrition and behaviour.

Keywords:

carnivory, exploding ants, nutrition, Southeast Asia, Thailand

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¹Second Zoological Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria

²Thailand Natural History Museum, National Science Museum, Technopolis, Khlong 5, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120 Thailand

³Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Syiah Kuala University, Darussalam 23111, Banda Aceh, Indonesia

⁴Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria

⁵Department of Theoretical Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria

*Corresponding author: alice.laciny@nhm-wien.ac.at