Reactions Of Brachyponera Luteipes to Contacts with Different Social Insects

Abstract

Brachyponera chinensis, known as the Asian needle ants, is an ant species with complex behaviors. The main focus of this paper is if Brachyponera chinensis has the ability to sense the volatile chemical of termites and hunt them easily, does its close cousin, Brachyponera luteipes, react toward termites the same as them, and what will Brachyponera luteipes responses when it contacts with other social insects that live in the same habitat as them. This lecture will show the result of Brachyponera luteipes's reactions when contact with Brachyponera chinensis, Brachyponera luteipes, Reticulitermes qingdaoensis, and Pheidole nodus. Brachyponera luteipes also have techniques to hunt termites. Brachyponera luteipes do not have many techniques toward P. nodus, they avoid P. nodus soldiers. In conflicts with Brachyponera chinensis, Brachyponera luteipes shows a more aggressive attitude and takes a great advantage against Brachyponera chinensis. Information for this paper was gathered from Myrmecology and Ethology, to determine how Brachyponera luteipes is different from Brachyponera chinensis and how will it reacts toward different species that share the same habitat with it.