Krabbie
I have a book titled Ants, Bees and Wasps. It's written by Sir John Lubbock (Lord Avery). It was printed in 1929. It details his investigations into social insects, mostly experiments that he carried out between 1874 and 1882, which he subsequently had published in the journal of the Linnean Society. This is copy is actually a 17th edition - so between 1882 and 1929, the book was republished 17 times. Amazing what you can find in a second hand bookshop sometimes. I've had it since I was about 8, and although it's out of date (they didn't know about pheromones then) it was a big influence on my fascination with ants and science.
Now it really depends on what kind of project you are doing and how important it is to you. I could scan the chapter titled Recognition of Friends and forward it to you in electronic form, but if you don't think this will be relevant to your school, then it's a bit much hassle really. If you think it will help you get a better mark, then of course, I am always supportive of science projects.
Lubbock did a series of experiments with different species of ants.
btw. I just did a search
Hyperlinks sind nur für registrierte Nutzer sichtbarWOW! Imagine what edition that must be.
In summary:
Myrmica ruginodis
"Accordingly, on 20th of August, 1875, I divided a colony of Myrmica ruginodis, so that one half were in one nest, A, and the other half in another, B, and were kept entirely apart.
On 3rd October, I put into nest B a stranger and an old companion from nest A. They were marked with a spot of colour. One of them immediately flew at the stranger; of the friend they took no notice.
18th October. - At 10 a.m. I put in a stranger and a friend from nest A. In the evening the former was killed, the latter was quite at home.
19th October. - I put one in a small bottle with a friend from nest A. They did not show any enmity. I then put in a stranger and one immediately began to fight with her.
24th October. - I again put into the nest a stranger and a friend. The former was attacked but not the latter. The following day I found the former almost dead, while the friend was alright.
31st October. - I again put a stranger and a friend into the nest. The former was at once attacked; in this case the firend also was, for a moment, seized by the leg, but at once released again. On the following morning the stranger was dead, the friend was all right (sic).
7th November. - Aain I put a stranger and a friend. The former was soon attacked and eventually driven out ; of the latter they did not seem to me to take any particular notice. I could see no signs of welcome, no gathering round a returned friend ; but on the other hand, she was not attacked."
He did similar experiments with Formica fusca and they were all received amicably even after 1 year and 9 months.
It looks like your experiment might take rather a long time.
He then works with L. flavus etc.
His hypothesis (it turns out correct) was that each colony had an odour, and he precedes to test this by various means, he tests adoption of pupae, callow ants, etc. I think he even strips some ants of their odour with solvents.
Anyway, I hope that is helpful, let me know if you want me to scan some of the chapter for you.
