熱帶火蟻（膜翅目：蟻科）工蟻個體間探索行為的差異

Variation among Individual Workers in Exploratory Behavior of Solenopsis geminata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

10.6662/TESFE.202404_44(2).001

賴麗娟(Li-Chuan Lai)；徐崇斌(Chorng-Bin Hsu)；趙子嫣(Tzu-Yen Chao)

熱帶火蟻 ； 工蟻 ； 個體差異 ； 探索行為 ； 探索模式 ； Solenopsis geminata ； worker ； individual differences ； exploratory behavior ； exploratory pattern

台灣昆蟲

44卷2期（2024 / 04 / 01）

48 - 57

繁體中文;英文

在蟻巢內和蟻巢間，工蟻個體的行為差異會影響族群的生存和繁殖成功。本研究探討熱帶火蟻（Solenopsis geminata）工蟻個體於圓形區域中的探索行為，並確認了工蟻個體的探索模式與平均探索時間。研究觀察到在蟻巢內與蟻巢間，工蟻皆有不同的探索模式和探索時間。不同蟻巢間工蟻花費的平均探索時間具顯著差異。本研究結果顯示，工蟻個體的探索可分為五種主要模式。此外，工蟻在五種探索模式中平均花費的探索時間具有顯著差異。以工蟻使用的彎曲路徑來看，不同巢之間的工蟻所使用的平均探索時間具顯著差異。多數工蟻傾向以繞圈方式並朝一個方向逐漸擴展搜索區域（如順時針轉向或逆時針轉向）。工蟻個體在探索模式上的差異應可解釋為何它們採用多樣的探索策略，以增加發現目標的機會。熱帶火蟻工蟻在探索模式與探索時間上表現出差異，推測這些個體差異可能影響整個蟻巢的探索行為。

Behavioral variation among individual workers within and among colonies has consequences for the survival and reproductive success of the population. In the present study, the exploratory behavior of individual workers of the tropical fire ant Solenopsis geminata was conducted in a circular arena. The search patterns and average exploratory time of individual workers in a circular arena were also determined. Our observations within and among colonies showed that workers have different exploration patterns and different exploratory times. Significant differences exist in the average exploratory time workers spend among colonies. The results reveal that individual workers followed five major exploratory patterns. Additionally, there were significant differences in the average time spent exploring among the five patterns used by workers. The average exploratory time used by individual workers in tortuous paths significantly differs among colonies. Most workers tended to search in a looping pattern, and one direction progressively extended the search area (like clockwise turning or counterclockwise turning). Variations in the search patterns of individual workers may explain why they employ various exploration strategies to increase the chances of discovering targets. Tropical fire ant workers exhibit variations in exploratory pattern and time, inferring that these individual differences may influence the exploration behavior of the whole colony.