The Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Alabama

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Alabama THE ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) OF ALABAMA Except where reference is made to the work of others, the work described in this thesis is my own or was done in collaboration with my advisory committee. This thesis does not contain proprietary or classified information. ___________________________ Jason Allan Forster Certificate of Approval: ___________________________ ___________________________ Wayne E. Clark Michael L. Williams, Chair Professor Professor Entomology and Plant Pathology Entomology and Plant Pathology ___________________________ ___________________________ George Folkerts Stephen L. McFarland Professor Dean Biological Science Graduate School THE ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) OF ALABAMA Jason Allan Forster A Thesis Submitted to The Graduate Faculty of Auburn University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Auburn, Alabama August 8, 2003 THE ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) OF ALABAMA Jason Allan Forster Permission is granted to Auburn University to make copies of this thesis at its discretion upon request of individuals or institutions and at their expense. The author reserves all publication rights. ___________________________ Jason Allan Forster ___________________________ Date iii VITA Jason Allan Forster was born August 23, 1975 in Anaheim, California to Edward and Sheila Forster. He graduated from Loara High School in 1993 and enlisted in the United States Navy. After serving four years in the Navy, Jason was honorably discharged and became a full time student, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Alabama- Huntsville in April, 2002. After graduating, he spent a summer working as a field technician in Auburn University’s Department of Wildlife Biology. Jason was accepted into the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department as a graduate student in August, 2002. iv THESIS ABSTRACT THE ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) OF ALABAMA Jason Allan Forster Master of Science, August 8, 2005 (B.S., University of Alabama – Huntsville, 2002) 242 Typed Pages Directed by: Michael L. Williams This thesis presents the first statewide survey of the ant fauna of Alabama in over seventy years. Since the first state survey by L.C. Murphree (in the 1930’s) to present, 154 species have been reported. Fifty-nine of the species presented are new records for the state. Specimens were collected from every county over a period of three years. Past collection records were also examined and incorporated into this thesis. Distribution data, natural history notes, and identification keys for all the species reported in Alabama are presented. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Michael L. Williams, for accepting me as his student and for his support and guidance over the years. I want to extend my gratitude to my committee members: Dr. Wayne E. Clark and Dr. George Folkerts. I would also like to thank my friends and associates for their help and friendship while here at Auburn including: Nicholas Sharp, Nathan Burkett, Andy Boring, Demian Kondo, Elly Maxwell, Shawn Dash, Dr. Charles Ray, Dr. Gary Mullen, Dr. Arthur Appel, and Joe MacGown. I would especially like to thank Joe MacGown for sharing his data, insights and knowledge on the subject of ants and for assisting me in my identification efforts. Finally, special thanks to my parents and family for their care and understanding over the years. vi Computer software used: Microsoft® Word 2000 vii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES AND MAPS ...………………………………………………………xi LIST OF FIGURES …………………………………………………………………...xviii INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………..1 MATERIALS AND METHODS …………………………………………………………3 GENERAL MORPHOLOGY OF ANTS ………………………………………………...7 GENERAL TAXONOMY OF ANTS ……………………………………………………9 KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES OF FORMICIDAE ……………………………………12 SUBFAMILY AMBYLOPONINAE …………………………………………………...14 Genus Amblyopone ……………………………………………………………...14 SUBFAMILY DOLICHODERINAE …………………………………………………...15 Genus Dolichoderus ……………………………………………………………..17 Genus Dorymyrmex ……………………………………………………………..21 Genus Forelius ………………………………………………………………..…25 Genus Linepithema …………………………………………………………..….27 Genus Tapinoma …………………………………………………………….…..29 SUBFAMILY ECITONINAE …………………………………………………………..30 Genus Neivamyrmex ……………………………………………………...……..31 SUBFAMILY ECTATOMMINAE …………………………………………..…………34 Genus Gnamptogenys ………………………………………………………….…….….34 viii SUBFAMILY FORMICINAE ………………………………………………………….35 Genus Brachymyrmex …………………………………………………………...37 Genus Camponotus …………………………………………………………...…41 Genus Formica …………………………………………………………………..58 Genus Lasius …………………………………………………………………….68 Genus Paratrechina …………………………………………………………..…72 SUBFAMILY MYRMICINAE …………………………………………………………84 Genus Aphaenogaster ………………….………………………………………..89 Genus Crematogaster ………….……….……………………………………...100 Genus Cyphomyrmex ………………….……………………………………….107 Genus Monomorium …………………..………………………………………..109 Genus Myrmecina ……………….…..………………………………………....114 Genus Myrmica ……………………….……………………………………..…115 Genus Pheidole ………………………………………………………………...119 Genus Pogonomyrmex …………………………………………………………135 Genus Protomognathus ………………………………………………………...137 Genus Pyramica ………………………………………………………………..138 Genus Solenopsis ………………………………………………………………155 Genus Stenamma ……………………………………………………………….170 Genus Strumigenys ……………………………………………………………..172 Genus Temnothorax …………………………………………………………....173 Genus Tetramorium …………………………………………………………....181 Genus Trachymyrmex ………………………………………………………….184 ix SUBFAMILY PONERINAE …………………………………………………………..186 Genus Cryptopone ……………………………………………………………..189 Genus Hypoponera …………………………………………………………….190 Genus Odontomachus ………………………………………………………….194 Genus Ponera ………………………………………………………………..…196 SUBFAMILY PROCERATIINAE …………………………………………………….199 Genus Discothyrea ……………………………………………………………..199 Genus Proceratium …………………………………………………………….200 SUBFAMILY PSEUDOMYRMECINAE ………………………………………….…204 Genus Pseudomyrmex ………………………………………………………….205 RESULTS …………………………………………………………………………..….209 DISCUSSION ………………………………………………………………………….210 REFERENCES ……………………..……………………………………………….…212 x LIST OF TABLES AND MAPS Table 1. List of the ants of Alabama …………………………………………………...…9 Map 1. County map of the state of Alabama ……………………………………………10 Map 2. Amblyopone pallipes ………………………………………………...…………..15 Map 3. Dolichoderus plagiatus ……………………………...…………………………..19 Map 4. Dorymyrmex bureni ……………………………………………………………..22 Map 5. Dorymyrmex flavus ………………………………………………………..…….23 Map 6. Dorymyrmex grandulus …………………………………………………………24 Map 7. Dorymyrmex smithi ……………………………………………………...………25 Map 8. Forelius sp. ……………………………………………………………………...26 Map 9. Linepithema humile …………………………………………..…………………27 Map 10. Tapinoma sessile ………………………………………………...…………..…29 Map 11. Neivamyrmex carolinensis ………………………………………….………….32 Map 11. Neivamyrmex nigrescens ………….…………………….………….………….33 Map 12. Gnamptogenys triangularis …………………………………..….…………….35 Map 13. Brachymyrmex depilis …………………………………………………………39 Map 14. Brachymyrmex musculus ………………………………………………………40 Map 15. Brachymyrmex sp. ……………………………………………………………..41 Map 16. Camponotus americanus ………………………………………………………46 Map 17. Camponotus caryae ……………………………………………..……………..47 xi Map 18. Camponotus castaneus …………………………….…………….…………….48 Map 19. Camponotus chromaiodes ……………………..………………………………49 Map 20. Camponotus decipiens ………………………...……………………………….50 Map 21. Camponotus discolor ………………………………..…………………………50 Map 22. Camponotus floridanus ………………………………….…………………….51 Map 23. Camponotus impressus ………………………………..……………………….52 Map 24. Camponotus mississippiensis ……………………………………...…………..53 Map 25. Camponotus nearcticus ………………..………………………………………53 Map 26. Camponotus pennsylvanicus …………………..……………….………………55 Map 27. Camponotus snellingi ……………………….…………..…………………….56 Map 28. Camponotus socius ………………………..…………..……………………….57 Map 29. Camponotus subbarbatus ……………..…………………….…………………58 Map 30. Formica integra.. ………………………………………………………………62 Map 31. Formica new sp. ………………………………………….……………………63 Map 32. Formica pallidefulva ……………………………….………………………….64 Map 33. Formica rubicunda …………………………………………………………….65 Map 34. Formica schaufussi dolosa …………………………………………………….66 Map 35. Formica subintegra ……………………………………………..……………..67 Map 36. Formica subsericea ………………………………………..…………………..68 Map 37. Lasius alienus ………………………………………………………………….70 Map 38. Lasius neoniger ………………………………………..……………………….71 Map 39. Lasius umbratus …………………………………………...…………………..72 Map 40. Paratrechina arenivaga ………………………………………………………..75 xii Map 41. Paratrechina bourbonica ………………………………………..…………….76 Map 42. Paratrechina faisonensis ………………………………………………………77 Map 43. Paratrechina parvula ………………………………………………………….79 Map 44. Paratrechina phantasma ……………………...……………………………….80 Map 45. Paratrechina vividula ………………………………………………………….81 Map 46. Paratrechina wojciki ………………………………….……………………….82 Map 47. Prenolepis imparis ………………………………….……………….…………83 Map 48. Aphaenogaster fulva …………………………………….……………..………93 Map 49. Aphaenogaster lamellidens …………………….………………………………94 Map 50. Aphaenogaster miamiana ………………...……………………………………95 Map 51. Aphaenogaster picea ………………………………………….……………….96 Map 52. Aphaenogaster rudis …………………………………………………………..97 Map 53. Aphaenogaster tennesseensis ………………………………………………….97 Map 54. Aphaenogaster treatae …………………………………...…………………….98 Map 55. Aphaenogaster sp. ………………………………………………………….….99 Map 56. Crematogaster ashmeadi ……………………………………………………..102 Map 57. Crematogaster lineolata ………………………………………………..…….103 Map 58. Crematogaster minutissima …………………………………………………..104 Map 59. Crematogaster missuriensis …………………………….……………………105 Map 60. Crematogaster pilosa ………………………………..……………………….106
Recommended publications
  • Effects of Myrmecochore Species Abundance
    EFFECTS OF MYRMECOCHORE SPECIES ABUNDANCE, DIVERSITY, AND FRUITING PHENOLOGY ON APHAENOGASTER (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) NESTING AND FORAGING IN SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN RICH COVE FORESTS A Thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate School of Western Carolina University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biology. By Mary N. Schultz Director: Dr. James T. Costa, Western Carolina University Biology Department Committee Members: Dr. Beverly Collins, Western Carolina University Biology Department Dr. Robert Warren III, State University of New York College at Buffalo Biology Department April, 2014 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my committee members and director for their assistance and support, particularly logistical, conceptual, and editorial guidance from Dr. Beverly Collins; statistical and editorial assistance from Dr. Robert Warren; and keen proofreading and editorial comments from Dr. James T. Costa. I would also like to thank Dr. Mark Bradford, Yale school of Forestry and Environmental Studies, for funding my research. I am eternally grateful to my husband, David Clarke, for his continued unwavering support, in the field and out; none of this would have been possible without him. Lastly, my sincere appreciation for generous counsel and sage advice from my friends, Josh Kelly and Jay Kranyik. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES .........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Resasco Etal 2014 Plosone.Pdf (1.045Mb)
    Using Historical and Experimental Data to Reveal Warming Effects on Ant Assemblages The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters Citation Resasco, Julian, Shannon L. Pelini, Katharine L. Stuble, Nathan J. Sanders, Robert R. Dunn, Sarah E. Diamond, Aaron M. Ellison, Nicholas J. Gotelli, and Douglas J. Levey. 2014. “Using Historical and Experimental Data to Reveal Warming Effects on Ant Assemblages.” Edited by Martin Heil. PLoS ONE 9 (2) (February 4): e88029. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0088029. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0088029. Published Version doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0088029 Citable link http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:11857773 Terms of Use This article was downloaded from Harvard University’s DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http:// nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of- use#LAA Using Historical and Experimental Data to Reveal Warming Effects on Ant Assemblages Julian Resasco1*†, Shannon L. Pelini2, Katharine L. Stuble 3‡, Nathan J. Sanders3§, Robert R. Dunn4, Sarah E. Diamond4¶, Aaron M. Ellison5, Nicholas J. Gotelli6, Douglas J. Levey7 1Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA 2Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA 3Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA 4Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA 5Harvard University, Harvard Forest, Petersham, MA 01366 USA 6Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405 USA 7National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA 22230, USA † Current address: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA ‡ Current address: Oklahoma Biological Survey, 111 E.
    [Show full text]
  • Newly Discovered Sister Lineage Sheds Light on Early Ant Evolution
    Newly discovered sister lineage sheds light on early ant evolution Christian Rabeling†‡§, Jeremy M. Brown†¶, and Manfred Verhaagh‡ †Section of Integrative Biology, and ¶Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Texas, 1 University Station C0930, Austin, TX 78712; and ‡Staatliches Museum fu¨r Naturkunde Karlsruhe, Erbprinzenstr. 13, D-76133 Karlsruhe, Germany Edited by Bert Ho¨lldobler, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, and approved August 4, 2008 (received for review June 27, 2008) Ants are the world’s most conspicuous and important eusocial insects and their diversity, abundance, and extreme behavioral specializations make them a model system for several disciplines within the biological sciences. Here, we report the discovery of a new ant that appears to represent the sister lineage to all extant ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The phylogenetic position of this cryptic predator from the soils of the Amazon rainforest was inferred from several nuclear genes, sequenced from a single leg. Martialis heureka (gen. et sp. nov.) also constitutes the sole representative of a new, morphologically distinct subfamily of ants, the Martialinae (subfam. nov.). Our analyses have reduced the likelihood of long-branch attraction artifacts that have trou- bled previous phylogenetic studies of early-diverging ants and therefore solidify the emerging view that the most basal extant ant lineages are cryptic, hypogaeic foragers. On the basis of morpho- logical and phylogenetic evidence we suggest that these special- EVOLUTION ized subterranean predators are the sole surviving representatives of a highly divergent lineage that arose near the dawn of ant diversification and have persisted in ecologically stable environ- ments like tropical soils over great spans of time.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects on Brood Development in the Carpenter Ant Camponotus Vicinus Mayr After Exposure to the Yeast Associate Schwanniomyces Polymorphus Kloecker
    insects Article Effects on Brood Development in the Carpenter Ant Camponotus vicinus Mayr after Exposure to the Yeast Associate Schwanniomyces polymorphus Kloecker Mark E. Mankowski 1,*, Jeffrey J. Morrell 2 and Patricia K. Lebow 3 1 Forest Products Laboratory Starkville, USDA Forest Service, Starkville, MS 39759, USA 2 Centre Timber Durability and Design Life, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4102, Australia; [email protected] 3 Forest Products Laboratory Madison, USDA Forest Service, Madison, WI 53726, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Simple Summary: Carpenter ants are important to ecosystem services as they assist in the breakdown of course woody debris when excavating wood for nests. Feeding on a variety of carbohydrate and protein sources, they have an infrabuccal filter that limits passage of large food particles to their gut. A variety of yeasts have been found associated with the infrabuccal pocket and the nests of these ants. The yeast Schwanniomyces polymorphus is associated with the carpenter ant Camponotus vicinus. To examine a possible nutritional association between this yeast and ant, we reared small sub-colonies of defaunated and non-defaunated C. vincus brood on several artificial diets where various nutritional components were removed. Part of the testing involved exposure of brood to these diets and cells of S. polymorphus. Dietary treatments that were augmented with yeast generally had deleterious Citation: Mankowski, M.E.; Morrell, J.J.; effects on brood development compared to diets without yeast. However, increased brood weight Lebow, P.K. Effects on Brood and increased number of adult ants from initial brood was observed in non-defaunated ants fed a Development in the Carpenter Ant diet where B vitamins and sterols were absent, but augmented with live yeast.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of House and Landscape Characteristics on the Abundance and Diversity of Perimeter Pests Principal Investigators: Arthur G
    Project Final Report presented to: The Pest Management Foundation Board of Trustees Project Title: Effects of house and landscape characteristics on the abundance and diversity of perimeter pests Principal Investigators: Arthur G. Appel and Xing Ping Hu, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University Date: June 17, 2019 Executive Summary: The overall goal of this project was to expand and refine our statistical model that estimates Smokybrown cockroach abundance from house and landscape characteristics to include additional species of cockroaches, several species of ants as well as subterranean termites. The model will correlate pest abundance and diversity with house and landscape characteristics. These results could ultimately be used to better treat and prevent perimeter pest infestations. Since the beginning of the period of performance (August 1, 2017), we have hired two new Master’s students, Patrick Thompson and Gökhan Benk, to assist with the project. Both students will obtain degrees in entomology with a specialization in urban entomology with anticipated graduation dates of summer-fall 2019. We have developed and tested several traps designs for rapidly collecting sweet and protein feeding ants, purchased and modified traps for use during a year of trapping, and have identified species of ants, cockroaches, and termites found around homes in Auburn Alabama. House and landscape characteristics have been measured at 62 single-family homes or independent duplexes. These homes range in age from 7 to 61 years and include the most common different types of siding (brick, metal, stone, vinyl, wood), different numbers/types of yard objects (none to >15, including outbuildings, retaining walls, large ornamental rocks, old trees, compost piles, etc.), and different colors.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecology and Field Biology of Two Dominant Camponotus Ants
    JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 2018 VOL. 52, NOS. 3–4, 237–252 https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2017.1420833 Ecology and field biology of two dominant Camponotus ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Brazilian savannah Mariane U.V. Ronquea, Vincent Fourcassiéb and Paulo S. Oliveira c aPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, C.P. 6109, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil; bCentre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, UMR CNRS Nº5169, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France; cDepartamento de Biologia Animal, C.P. 6109, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil Camponotus renggeri and C. rufipes are very abundant in Brazilian ARTICLE HISTORY cerrado savannah, where they feed extensively on liquid rewards Received 23 March 2017 and commonly associate with plants bearing extrafloral nectaries Accepted 5 December 2017 and honeydew-producing insects. Here, we provide a qualitative Online 22 January 2018 and quantitative field account on the natural history and ecology of KEYWORDS these two ant species. The study was carried out in a cerrado Activity schedule; ants; reserve in south-eastern Brazil across a rainy/hot season (summer) cerrado vegetation; nesting and a dry/cold season (winter). The ants were found in two vegeta- habits; home range tion physiognomies: all nests of C. rufipes were located in the cerrado sensu stricto (scrub of shrubs and trees, 3–8 m tall), whereas C. renggeri occurred mostly in the cerradão (forest with more or less merging canopy, 10–12 m tall). Both species nested in fallen or erect dead trunks, as well as underground.
    [Show full text]
  • 2013 Where to Go Camping Guide
    2013 Where To Go Camping Guide A Publicaon of the Coosa Lodge of the Greater Alabama Council 504501.",*/(5)$&/563: 8)&3&50(0$".1*/((6*%&4 XXXXIFSFUPHPTDPVUJOHPSH Where to go Camping Guide Table of Contents In Council Camps………………………………………….3 High Adventure Bases…………………………………..5 Alabama State Parks……………………………………8 Wildlife Refuge…………………………………………….19 Points of Interest………………………………….………20 Places to Hike………………………………………………21 Sites to See……………………………………………………24 Maps……………………………………………………………25 Order of the Arrow………………………………...…….27 2 Boy Scout Camps Council Camps Each Campsite is equipped with a flagpole, trashcan, faucet, and latrine (Except Eagle and Mountain Goat) with washbasin. On the side of the latrine is a bulletin board that the troop can use to post assignments, notices, and duty rosters. Camp Comer has two air- conditioned shower and restroom facilities for camp-wide use. Patrol sites are pre- established in each campsite. Most Campsites have some Adarondaks that sleep four and tents on platforms that sleep two. Some sites may be occupied by more than one troop. Troops are encouraged to construct gateways to their campsites. The Hawk Campsite is a HANDICAPPED ONLY site; if you do not have a scout or leader that is handicapped that site will not be available. There are four troop campsites; each campsite has a latrine, picnic table and fire ring. Water may be obtained at spigots near the pavilion. Garbage is disposed of at the Tannehill trash dumpster. Each unit is responsible for providing its trash bags and taking garbage to the trash dumpster. The campsites have a number and a name. Make reservations at a Greater Alabama Council Service Center; be sure to specify the campsite or sites desired.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ants of Oklahoma Master of Science
    THE ANTS OF OKLAHOMA By Jerry H. Young(I\" Bachelor of Science Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College Stillwater, Oklahoma 1955 Submitted to the faculty of the Graduate School of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE January 1 1956 tl<lAWMA AGCMCl«.f�Al L �Ci'!AlttCAl e&U.Ull LIBRARY JUL16195 6 THE ANTS OF OKLAHOMA Thesis Approved: Thesis Adviser }>JcMem��f � 't'" he Thesis ) Committee Member of the Thesis Committee 7'4'.��Member of the Thesis Committee Head of the Department ifean of the Graduate School 361565 ii PREFACE The study of the distribution of ants in the United States has been a long and continuous process with many contributors, but the State of Oklahoma has not received the attentions of these observers to any great extent. The only known list of ants of Oklahoma is one prepared by Mo Ro Smith (1935)0 Early in 1954 a survey of the state of Oklahoma was made to determine the species present and their distributiono The results of this survey, which blanketed the entire State, are given in this paper. The author wishes to express his appreciation to Dro Do E. Howell, chairman of the writer's thesis committee, for his valuable assistance and careful guidance in the preparation of this papero Also, much guidance on preparation of this manuscrip_t was received from Drs. Do Eo Bryan, William H. Irwin and F. A. Fenton. Many of the determin­ ations were made by M. R. Smith.. Vital infonnation was obtained from the museums at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College and the University of Oklahoma.
    [Show full text]
  • Where to Go Camping Guidebook
    2010 Greater Alabama Council Where to Go Camp ing Guidebook Published by the COOSA LODGE WHERE TO GO CAMPING GUIDE Table of Contents In Council Camps 2 High Adventure Bases 4 Alabama State Parks 7 Georgia State Parks 15 Mississippi State Parks 18 Tennessee State Parks 26 Wildlife Refuge 40 Points of Interest 40 Wetlands 41 Places to Hike 42 Sites to See 43 Maps 44 Order of the Arrow 44 Future/ Wiki 46 Boy Scouts Camps Council Camps CAMPSITES Each Campsite is equipped with a flagpole, trashcan, faucet, and latrine (Except Eagle and Mountain Goat) with washbasin. On the side of the latrine is a bulletin board that the troop can use to post assignments, notices, and duty rosters. Camp Comer has two air-conditioned shower and restroom facilities for camp-wide use. Patrol sites are pre-established in each campsite. Most campsites have some Adarondaks that sleep four and tents on platforms that sleep two. Some sites may be occupied by more than one troop. Troops are encouraged to construct gateways to their campsites. The Hawk Campsite is a HANDICAPPED ONLY site, if you do not have a scout or leader that is handicapped that site will not be available. There are four troop / campsites; each campsite has a latrine, picnic table and fire ring. Water may be obtained at spigots near the pavilion. Garbage is disposed of at the Tannehill trash dumpster. Each unit is responsible for providing its trash bags and taking garbage to the trash dumpster. The campsites have a number and a name. Make reservations at a Greater Alabama Council Service Center; be sure to specify the campsite or sites desired.
    [Show full text]
  • Digging Deeper Into the Ecology of Subterranean Ants: Diversity and Niche Partitioning Across Two Continents
    diversity Article Digging Deeper into the Ecology of Subterranean Ants: Diversity and Niche Partitioning across Two Continents Mickal Houadria * and Florian Menzel Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes-Gutenberg-University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Soil fauna is generally understudied compared to above-ground arthropods, and ants are no exception. Here, we compared a primary and a secondary forest each on two continents using four different sampling methods. Winkler sampling, pitfalls, and four types of above- and below-ground baits (dead, crushed insects; melezitose; living termites; living mealworms/grasshoppers) were applied on four plots (4 × 4 grid points) on each site. Although less diverse than Winkler samples and pitfalls, subterranean baits provided a remarkable ant community. Our baiting system provided a large dataset to systematically quantify strata and dietary specialisation in tropical rainforest ants. Compared to above-ground baits, 10–28% of the species at subterranean baits were overall more common (or unique to) below ground, indicating a fauna that was truly specialised to this stratum. Species turnover was particularly high in the primary forests, both concerning above-ground and subterranean baits and between grid points within a site. This suggests that secondary forests are more impoverished, especially concerning their subterranean fauna. Although subterranean ants rarely displayed specific preferences for a bait type, they were in general more specialised than above-ground ants; this was true for entire communities, but also for the same species if they foraged in both strata. Citation: Houadria, M.; Menzel, F.
    [Show full text]
  • Native and Non-Native Ant Impacts on Native Fungi
    State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State College Digital Commons at Buffalo State Biology Theses Biology 8-2021 Native and non-native ant impacts on native fungi Chloe Mokadam State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State College, [email protected] Advisor Robert J. Warren II, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology First Reader Christopher Pennuto, Ph.D., Professor of Biology Second Reader Olga Novikova, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology Department Chair Daniel L. Potts, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor of Biology To learn more about the Biology Department and its educational programs, research, and resources, go to https://biology.buffalostate.edu/. Recommended Citation Mokadam, Chloe, "Native and non-native ant impacts on native fungi" (2021). Biology Theses. 45. https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/biology_theses/45 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/biology_theses Part of the Biology Commons Native and non-native ant impacts on native fungi by Chloe Mokadam An Abstract of a Thesis in Biology Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts August 2021 Buffalo State College State University of New York Department of Biology 1 ABSTRACT OF THESIS Non-native ant impacts on native fungi Organisms produce weapons for defense against pathogens and competitors. In response, competitors and pathogens develop resistance to these weapons. However, when a species invades a new range, its “novel weapons” may be more effective against native species that did not co-evolve with them. Via specialized glands and microbial associates, ants produce antifungal weapons for defense against entomopathogenic fungi.
    [Show full text]
  • Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
    SYSTEMATICS Phylogenetic Analysis of Aphaenogaster Supports the Resurrection of Novomessor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) 1 B. B. DEMARCO AND A. I. COGNATO Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, 288 Farm Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 108(2): 201–210 (2015); DOI: 10.1093/aesa/sau013 ABSTRACT The ant genus Aphaenogaster Mayr is an ecologically diverse group that is common throughout much of North America. Aphaenogaster has a complicated taxonomic history due to variabil- ity of taxonomic characters. Novomessor Emery was previously synonymized with Aphaenogaster, which was justified by the partial mesonotal suture observed in Aphaenogaster ensifera Forel. Previous studies using Bayesian phylogenies with molecular data suggest Aphaenogaster is polyphyletic. Convergent evolution and retention of ancestral similarities are two major factors contributing to nonmonophyly of Aphaenogaster. Based on 42 multistate morphological characters and five genes, we found Novomessor more closely related to Veromessor Forel and that this clade is sister to Aphaenogaster. Our results confirm the validity of Novomessor stat. r. as a separate genus, and it is resurrected based on the combi- nation of new DNA, morphological, behavioral, and ecological data. KEY WORDS Aphaenogaster, Novomessor, phylogenetics, resurrection Introduction phylogenetic analyses resolved Aphaenogaster as polyphyletic, including Messor Forel, 1890 and Sten- The ant genus Aphaenogaster Mayr, 1853 is a speciose amma (Brady et al. 2006, Moreau and Bell 2013). group,whichhasnotbeentaxonomicallyreviewedin Ward (2011) suggested that convergent evolution and over 60 years (Creighton 1950). Aphaenogaster con- retention of ancestral similarities were two major fac- tains 227 worldwide species (Bolton 2006), with 23 tors contributing to polyphyly of Aphaenogaster. valid North American species reduced from 31 original Aphaenogaster taxonomy was further complicated species descriptions.
    [Show full text]