Haplometrosis and pleometrosis in the ant Acromyrmex striatus (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)

Laboratory tests with mated females of the leaf-cutting ants Acromyrmex striatus (Myrmicinae, Attini) were conducted to determine if the colony foundation is a solitary or a mutualistic process. We have also tested the effect of foundresses density and number of available areas in this process. Three bioassays were performed: with single foundresses; with paired foundresses; and with groups of 8 to 18 foundresses. The results suggest that the foundation can be by haplometrosis or pleometrosis, possibly depending on physical distances between or densities of foundresses. Foraging activity was common in haplometrotic queens and in foundress pairs, but no foraging occurred in groups of foundresses.