Behavioral repertoire, age polyethism and adult transport in Ectatomma opaciventre (Formicidae: Ponerinae)

This study describes the behavioral repertoire of a mature colony of Ectatomma opaciventre Roger. Twenty-eight different behavioral acts were recorded from 4538 individual observations. There was evidence of age polyethism, with young workers performing significantly more brood care and allogrooming than older workers. Experiments were also performed to investigate the behavioral organization of nest relocation in E. opaciventre. This complex social behavior was regulated by a few workers which specialized in transporting nestmates, including other workers, winged gynes, males, and the queen. Winged gynes were also observed performing adult transport. The carrying posture utilized in E. opaciventre is similar to that in other ponerines, although some idiosyncratic features were detected.