title: Prey availability and eclosion-help of callow workers in the formicine ant Camponotus mus.
abstract: In the ant Camponotus mus the eclosion of imagines from the cocoons was shown to be controlled by nurse workers, which broke the cocoons and assisted the callows to energe. Short-term colony prey deprivation modified the eclosion-help behavior resulting in a delay in cocoon opening times. During long-term prey deprivation, no new cocoons were spun; the starved larvae grew and pupated when prey was again available. These findings as a colony strategy adapted to the changing condition of prey availabitity in a temperate habitat are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pab II Ciudad Universitaria, 1428, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roces
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pab II Ciudad Universitaria, 1428, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Jorge J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Protomastro
keywords: Ants; Camponotus mus; Colony strategy; Eclosion-help; Prey availability