Abstract
Even after years of research on navigation in the Red Honey Ant,Melophorus bagoti, much of its life history remains elusive. Here, we present observations on nest relocation and the reproductive and founding stages of colonies. Nest relocation is possibly aided by trail laying behaviour, which is highly unusual for solitary foraging desert ants. Reproduction occurs in synchronised mating flights, which are probably triggered by rain. Queens may engage in multiple matings, and there is circumstantial evidence that males are chemically attracted to queens. After the mating flight, the queens found new colonies independently and singly. Excavation of these founding colonies reveals first insights into their structure.
Highlights
The Australian desert ant, Melophorus bagoti Lubbock, is a widespread species of arid Central Australia
M. bagoti is common in the area, and their nests occur at a density of ∼3/ha, which is much lower than previously reported by Muser et al [3] from a different location
On several occasions workers were seen dragging the tip of their abdomen across the sandy soil, a behaviour which has not been observed in M. bagoti or any other solitary foraging desert ant so far
Summary
The Australian desert ant, Melophorus bagoti Lubbock, is a widespread species of arid Central Australia. The nest relocated its entrance to this new opening (distance: 47 cm, bearing: 190◦), closing the old entrance. A continuous but sparse moving column of ants, including repletes, was observed between the two nest sites.
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