Worker Longevity in Harvester Ants (Pogonomyrmex)

Most studies of worker longevity in ants have been made in the laboratory (Haskins and Haskins 1980; Porter and Tschinkel 1982). In the field, increased energy expenditures, predation, and environmental fluctuations may all contribute to shorten the life of a worker ant. In the few existing studies...

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Main Authors: D. M. Gordon, B. Hölldobler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1987-01-01
Series:Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1987/63930
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author D. M. Gordon
B. Hölldobler
author_facet D. M. Gordon
B. Hölldobler
author_sort D. M. Gordon
collection DOAJ
description Most studies of worker longevity in ants have been made in the laboratory (Haskins and Haskins 1980; Porter and Tschinkel 1982). In the field, increased energy expenditures, predation, and environmental fluctuations may all contribute to shorten the life of a worker ant. In the few existing studies of worker longevity conducted in the field, the lifespan of exterior workers was found to be extremely short. For example, Schmid-Hempel and Schmid- Hempel (1984) found that the half-life of Cataglyphis foragers, after they were marked, was only 6 days.
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publishDate 1987-01-01
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series Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
spelling doaj-art-89d178945aca4a45b71241498217cd852025-08-20T02:09:19ZengWileyPsyche: A Journal of Entomology0033-26151687-74381987-01-01943-434134610.1155/1987/63930Worker Longevity in Harvester Ants (Pogonomyrmex)D. M. Gordon0B. Hölldobler1Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge 02138, Mass., USAMuseum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge 02138, Mass., USAMost studies of worker longevity in ants have been made in the laboratory (Haskins and Haskins 1980; Porter and Tschinkel 1982). In the field, increased energy expenditures, predation, and environmental fluctuations may all contribute to shorten the life of a worker ant. In the few existing studies of worker longevity conducted in the field, the lifespan of exterior workers was found to be extremely short. For example, Schmid-Hempel and Schmid- Hempel (1984) found that the half-life of Cataglyphis foragers, after they were marked, was only 6 days.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1987/63930
spellingShingle D. M. Gordon
B. Hölldobler
Worker Longevity in Harvester Ants (Pogonomyrmex)
Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
title Worker Longevity in Harvester Ants (Pogonomyrmex)
title_full Worker Longevity in Harvester Ants (Pogonomyrmex)
title_fullStr Worker Longevity in Harvester Ants (Pogonomyrmex)
title_full_unstemmed Worker Longevity in Harvester Ants (Pogonomyrmex)
title_short Worker Longevity in Harvester Ants (Pogonomyrmex)
title_sort worker longevity in harvester ants pogonomyrmex
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1987/63930
work_keys_str_mv AT dmgordon workerlongevityinharvesterantspogonomyrmex
AT bholldobler workerlongevityinharvesterantspogonomyrmex