Abstract
Trail signals specificity of three sympatric species of Messor ants (M. capitatus, M. minor, and M. wasmanni) was investigated in the laboratory. Interspecific trail‐following tests showed that workers of each species are able to recognize and follow artificial trails obtained from the Dufour's gland secretions of the others. These results indicate that signals mediating trail‐following behaviour in these harvesting ants are not strictly species‐specific. However, using a series of preference tests, some differences among the species were found. The differences and similarities in trail‐following responses and, ultimately, in the chemical communication system of such sympatric ants are discussed taking into account their ecological implications.
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