Unexpected high overwintering survival rate of the cavity-dwelling ant <i>Temnothorax crassispinus</i> (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Authors

  • Sławomir Mitrus

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33338/ef.53373

Abstract

The mortality rate of many invertebrates is high during winter. The survival rate of the ant Temnothorax crassispinus , which overwinters above ground, was investigated. Unlike previous studies, this one showed a high survival rate during winter. In the field experiment, the number of workers at the end of the experiment amounted to 86-120% of the initial numbers, and 73 out of 74 queens survived. The high survival rate was most likely a result of the favourable weather conditions. In the laboratory experiment, none of the workers exposed to -24 °C survived, while the survival rate of workers kept in 5 °C was higher (73.2% on average) than those in 0°C (53.2%). The expected rise in temperatures as a consequence of climate change may result in a higher survival rate in the winter season, but also in the reduction of snow cover, which may exert the opposite effect.

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Published

2015-12-10

How to Cite

Mitrus, S. (2015). Unexpected high overwintering survival rate of the cavity-dwelling ant <i>Temnothorax crassispinus</i> (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomologica Fennica, 26(4), 194–200. https://doi.org/10.33338/ef.53373

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Articles