Robinson, E. J. H. orcid.org/0000-0003-4914-9327, Green, K. E., Jenner, E. A. et al. (2 more authors) (2008) Decay rates of attractive and repellent pheromones in an ant foraging trail network. Insectes Sociaux. pp. 246-251. ISSN 1420-9098
Abstract
Pharaoh's ants (Monomorium pharaonis) use at least three types of foraging trail pheromone: a long-lasting attractive pheromone and two short-lived pheromones, one attractive and one repellent. We measured the decay rates of the behavioural response of ant workers at a trail bifurcation to trail substrate marked with either repellent or attractive short-lived pheromones. Our results show that the repellent pheromone effect lasts more than twice as long as the attractive pheromone effect (78 min versus 33 min). Although the effects of these two pheromones decay at approximately the same rate, the initial effect of the repellent pheromone on branch choice is almost twice that of the attractive pheromone (48% versus 25% above control). We hypothesise that the two pheromones have complementary but distinct roles, with the repellent pheromone specifically directing ants at bifurcations, while the attractive pheromone guides ants along the entire trail.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Keywords: | pheromones,foraging,decay rate,ants,Monomorium,repellent,FORMICIDAE,recruitment,HYMENOPTERA,SIGNAL,SCENT |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Biology (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 07 Jun 2012 12:03 |
Last Modified: | 22 Jan 2025 00:03 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-008-0994-5 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/s00040-008-0994-5 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:46214 |
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Filename: RobinsonPheromoneDecayInsSoc.pdf
Description: Decay rates of attractive and repellent pheromones in an ant foraging trail network