5 replies to this topic

[Monkeyred123]

Hello, I am conducting a research project for my high school where you get to pick a topic of interest. The question I chose was: How does the behavior of evolutionary close ant genera differ. 

I specifically chose 3 common ant genera, Lasius, solenopsis, and camponotus.

The evolutionary close genera that correspond to the three genera are myrmecocystus (corresponding to lasius), polyrhachis (corresponding to camponotus), and solenopsis. Solenopsis can be difficult, due to the closest genera being rare, so I chose the closest common genus I could find. This ended up being monomorium, however, if anyone has kept Kempfidris or Tropidomyrmex, info would be greatly appreciated. (info about evolutionary closeness found on antwiki)

 

What i am looking for, is information about how these genera behave, whether it be during feeding, when they panic, when they are idle, etc. and specific features that the ants have, such as growth rates, whether they have cocoons or not, whether they have stingers or formic acid, and sizes.

 

Please inform me of the genus and species of the ants of these genera you have kept, and feel free to mention one or two things as anything helps. It also doesn’t matter if you haven't kept one of the two corresponding genera.

 

Pictures would be nice for the presentation if you want to. (credit will be given)

Edited by Monkeyred123, October 8 2021 - 4:55 PM.

[Zeiss]

To start helping you with your presentation, you are not talking about species in this case.  Lasius, Solenopsis, and Camponotus are genera (genus for singular use).  Proper writing of binomial nomenclature is as follows: Genus species.  You always capitalize the genus name and keep the species name lowercase.  In addition to that, you always italicize the genus and species names.  

 

If you are going to ask for pictures from people here, you have to make sure you give them credit for those images, as you did not take them.

[Monkeyred123]

thanks, i will do that.

[Manitobant]

Tropidomyrmex and kempfidris aren’t very well known, so I would honestly recommend ditching solenopsis and choosing another pair of closely related genera. My personal recommendation would be formica and polyergus, two genera that are in an interesting parasite-host relationship, with polyergus raiding and enslaving formica.

Edited by Manitobant, October 9 2021 - 12:24 PM.

[ponerinecat]

I'm afraid camponotus and polyrhachis are not very good choices! They're both incredibly diverse genera with an equally large repertoire of behaviors. Both genera have weavers, parasites on their own genus, each other, and even other subfamilies, camponotus have phragmosis, etc. They're difficult enough to compare with themselves, let alone each other. Same goes for solenopsis and monomorium to an extent, and alsius as well, although myrmecocystus are fairly similar. Your best bet would be to choose relatively uniform genera, like messor and aphaenogaster.

Edited by ponerinecat, October 9 2021 - 10:49 AM.

[Monkeyred123]

ok so I've looked this over and i think I'm just going to completely change the genera I'm goint to research. the genera i know i will do is messor and aphenogaster(thank you poner) and i think i might do atta and acromyrmex, brachymyrmex and myrmelachista, and crematogaster and meranoplus. although i don't know if they are uniform genera