RAIDING BEHAVIOR OF 2 SPECIES OF SLAVE-MAKING ANTS, HARPAGOXENUS-AMERICANUS (EMERY) AND LEPTOTHORAX-DULOTICUS WESSON (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE)

The slave-raiding behaviour of Harpagoxenus americanus and Leptothorax duloticus is compared. In both species, raids follow 'scouting' by individuals or small groups of slave-makers. Single scouts return to their nest to lead a raiding party. Groups attack host-species nests at once, with or without recruiting additional raiders. Raiders usually guard the entrance to the raided nest, preventing workers from escaping with brood. L. duloticus raiders kill most adults in raided nests, but H. americanus raiders kill very few such individuals. H. americanus raiders always and L. duloticus raiders usually transport the raided colony's brood back to their own nest. However, L. duloticus colonies sometimes emigrate into raided nests. © 1979.