An unusual behavior of the leafcutting ant queen Acromyrmex octospinosa (Reich)

Abstract

It is a well known fact that after the mating flight the females of leafcutting ants chew off their wings and seek a suitable place in the ground where each one digs out a cell, establishes herself, and founds a new colony. Queens of sore species of leafcutters once they have occupied the cavity in the soil close its opening to the outside. However, the queens of Acromyrmex octospinosa (Reich ), one of om most common species, leave their cells open to the outside. So far, no queen of a leafcutting ant has been known to come out of her chamber and do sore of the foraging that is usually initiated by the first brood of workers, and always done by the members of this caste. The present note describes this unusual behavior observed in the queens of A. octospinosa.