Comparative analysis of the population structure of Crematogaster subdentata and Lasius neglectus in the primary and secondary ranges (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract

The population structure of Crematogaster subdentata Mayr, 1877 in the primary (native) (Uzbekistan) and secondary ranges (Crimea, Rostov-on-Don) is analyzed. The data obtained indicate an uncommon behavior for invasive ants – the formation of supercolonies in the primary range (the size of the foraging area is about 600 m2) in the urban territory. Nesting in houses and in trunks of old trees occurs both in the zone of invasion and in the primary range. The data of the distribution of the second invasive species in the same regions – Lasius neglectus Van Loon et al., 1990 are provided. Comparison of the population structure (ratio of the mono- and polycalic colonies, presence of the supercolonies and their sizes), parameters of the colonies (average number of the nests and forage trees per colony) showed the ad- vantage of Crematogaster subdentata over Lasius neglectus, which is gradually crowded out by the first species in the places of contact.

Keywords

• Ants
• invasion
• monocaly
• polycaly
• supercolonies
• pests