Abstract
Two models have been proposed for the transfer of genetically determined colony odour pheromones in social insects. The ‘Gestalt’ model suggests a complete transfer of pheromones amongst all nestmates whereas the ‘Individualistic’ model suggests no significant odour transfer with nestmates bearing individually distinct odours. In experiments with the ant Rhytidoponera confusa, colonies showed significantly more aggression (12% aggression) towards nestmates that had been kept in cages with non-nestmates than they did to nestmate controls (0% aggression). Colonies also showed significantly less aggression against non-nestmates that had been kept with nestmates in a separate cage (84% aggression) than they did to non-nestmate controls (100% aggression). A second experiment indicated that workers can absorb colony-specific odours from the nest materials of other colonies. However, whilst both experiments indicated a partial Gestalt component to the colony odour (ca. 28%), the Individualistic component seemed to be more important (ca. 72%).
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