Sphecomyrmex: Camponotus weaver ants? can Cataglyphis navigate? (13. Nov 2007 16:00)

Hi all,

I have some questions,

I read on myrmecos.net that some Camponotus species are weaver ants, like Polyrachis and Oecophyla. But I found this info only on myrmecos.net. Is it true? Are there other weaver ant species?
Then, I read on english wikipedia that Cataglyphis fortis use landmark to navigate. Is this info true? What "landmarks" are?

Thank very much.

miszt: (13. Nov 2007 16:09)

Cataplyphis have very good eye sight in general, and seem to navigate by sight, in particular the desert species (bicolor/forits/etc) who use the sun.

no idea whether Camponotus have any weaving species, they are generally Carpenter ants that have evolved to chew thru wood to make there nests

Sphecomyrmex: (13. Nov 2007 17:09)

Thanks!

Cataglyphis worker don't use trail feromones, do they?

JimmyVe: (13. Nov 2007 17:35)

As for as i know there are no weaving species from Camponotus but i don't know all the species so it possible there is. ;)

Like miszt said, they use the sun to navigate, i had a nice video of it somewhere but i lost it :( I don't think they use pheromones to, only the sun.

miszt: (13. Nov 2007 18:21)

afaik all Cataglyphis use eye-sight to navigate rather than sent trails

if your looking for a video, do a search for David Attenbourgh, Cataglyphis, desert ants in you tube, you'll find some nice ones :) Cataglyphis are wonderful ants! i'm gutted my colony is in such bad condition :(

Skippy: (13. Nov 2007 19:00)

dont know about weaver ants of Camponotus , some campo species building nest from bit of soil and wood but they have not larvae which producing that secret = weaver ant. For this call "weaver ants" are able only Polyrhachis and Oecophylla species what I know ;)

Myrmecos: Camponotus weaver ants (13. Nov 2007 19:02)

Some of the new world tropical Camponotus are weavers. For example, see here:

Camponotus weaver ants

Cheers,

Myrmecos

Skippy: (13. Nov 2007 19:07)

Myrmecos welcome in this forum :)

Hehh
I thought there are not weaver Camponotuses and now ... now I have more experience :lol: thx a lot ... I am interested by Camponotuses , so this is very new for me ;) , I´ll try to keep some there in Costa Rica :)

Skippy

Sphecomyrmex: (13. Nov 2007 20:31)

Thanks very much!

Welcome to myrmecos from me too, I take advantage to praise your very beautiful website! it's the origin of my interest for ants.

JimmyVe: (13. Nov 2007 20:52)

Hi Myrmecos and welcome,

Thanks for the info, this in also new for me (but there are so many species, it is unable to know them all ;))

Very interesting.