Supercolony of Dolichoderus quadripunctatus Linnaeus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

详细

Three colonies of Dolichoderus quadripunctatus of different sizes were revealed in the area of Kiev in June–July 2015. One of them was represented by a supercolony (secondary federation) located in walnut (Juglans regia) and apple tree (Malus domestica) plantations. The two true colonies include ten and three central nests, while the supercolony consists of 134 nests. Integration at the level of polycaly with breeding nests results in the formation of true colonies and then of a supercolony. Each of the polycalic colonies in the structure of the supercolony occupies its own tree. There may be from one to seven central nests in one tree. Supercolony nests are connected by net structure trails. The following factors favor the formation and development of the supercolony: the absence of dominant species of ants, the presence of trees of adequate species (their aphids colonies form a trophic resource) and age (the place for nesting), polycalic organization of colonies, the exchange of workers and brood between different parts of the supercolony, and the fertilization of queens in the nest.