DISPERSAL POLYMORPHISM AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITION OF MALES AND FEMALES IN THE ANT, FORMICA-TRUNCORUM

This study deals with dispersal behavior of sexuals and intraspecific variation in queen variation in queen numbers. The specific questions are: (1) Is there an association between male and female dispersal behavior and the number of queens in a colony? (2) Is there an association between individual behavior and physiological condition? (3) Do males and females from monogyne (one queen per colony) and polygyne (several functional queens per colony) colonies differ with respect to size, weight, and physiological condition? The results show that both males and females are more prone to disperse in monogyne than in polygne colonies. Moreover, males and females of both monogyne and polygne colonies show dispersal polymorphism, suggesting that an increased tendency of reproductive females to stay in the maternal colony may cause monogyne colonies to switch to polygyny. The propensity to disperse is associated with the physiological condition of individuals. Larger and heavier females containing more fat and glycogen preferentially disperse, whereas smaller ones with less fat and glycogen more easily dealate and mate without a previous nuptial flight. Male dispersal correlates positively to larger sized and higher levels of glycogen; fat contents do not increase during maturation. The females produced in monogyne colonies are larger, heavier, and contain more fat and glycogen than those produced in polygyne colonies. The males produced in monogyne colonies have relatively longer wings and are heavier than those produced in polygne colonies. However, there are no differences in size and fat contents between males from monogyne and polygyne colonies.