Nest construction in the arboreal ant Polyrhachis tubifex Karavaiev, 1926

Abstract

[Extract] The ant genus Polyrhachis is considered to be one of the 'giant' ant genera (Bolton 1995). With over 500 described species divided into 12 subgenera it continues to attract significant interest from taxonomists (Bolton 1995; Dorow 1995; Kohout 2008) and behavioural ecologists alike (Maschwitz et al. 2004; Robson & Kohout 2005). Socioecological factors such as the presence of polyandry or polydomy (van Zweden et al. 2007), foraging habits (Liefke et al. 1998) and the presence or absence of larval cocoons are highly variable. Nesting locations within the genus range from arboreal, to lignicolous, subterranean and even intertidal locations, while nest material, when present, ranges from larval or spider silk to carton (reviewed in Robson & Kohout 2007). Confirming the type and source of nesting material, particularly silk, remains an important step in determining the evolution and organisation of nest weaving behaviour within the genus (Robson 2004).