Post by Jenny on Jan 25, 2006 9:24:52 GMT
I've noticed that many members refer to a "soldier" caste among ants.
doctorant posted that the term soldier is not really correct, as ants have minor workers, major workers and even super-majors according to the size differential of the workers; but this leads me to pose one comment.
Ants with huge mandibles which are classed as "soldiers" occur in species such as Eciton (south American army ants) or Dorylus (African driver ants) are only designed for warfare and defence!
Are these little warriors super-major workers, or are they actually true born soldiers created for the specific task of defending their colony or even waging war against other ants or termites
Doctorant gave the following reply, which is both helpful and informative.
Thanks doctorant
"I would say that in most Eciton, etc. the majors are specialized as soldiers, while at least some majors are specialized as repletes in Myrmecocystus honey ants (but others act as territorial border guards). Majors specialize as seed millers in Solenopsis geminata fire ants and as door guards in some North African Cataglyphis, and so on.
doctorant posted that the term soldier is not really correct, as ants have minor workers, major workers and even super-majors according to the size differential of the workers; but this leads me to pose one comment.
Ants with huge mandibles which are classed as "soldiers" occur in species such as Eciton (south American army ants) or Dorylus (African driver ants) are only designed for warfare and defence!
Are these little warriors super-major workers, or are they actually true born soldiers created for the specific task of defending their colony or even waging war against other ants or termites
Doctorant gave the following reply, which is both helpful and informative.
Thanks doctorant
"I would say that in most Eciton, etc. the majors are specialized as soldiers, while at least some majors are specialized as repletes in Myrmecocystus honey ants (but others act as territorial border guards). Majors specialize as seed millers in Solenopsis geminata fire ants and as door guards in some North African Cataglyphis, and so on.
