Function of polydomy in monogynous ants

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(1)In 1993, I set up two study plots (6x12 m and 10x15 m) on the east-slope of Mt.Fuji (alt.c.1500m), where about 40 and 70 nest entrances of Manica yessensis were mapped, respectively. In 1994, most of the entrances were opened and reused by M.yessensis, but some were occupied by Formica lemani. Later in the season, M.yessensis again replaced F.lemani in portions of nests occupied by the latter. This frequent change in nest ownership indicates the interspecific competition for nest sites between the two species.(2)A total of approximately 1000 workers of M.yessensis, which were captured at 21 entrances, were marked by color spot on the dorsum of the gaster. Different colors were used for discrimination of nests where the marked workers were initially observed. Later recapture of marked ants suggested that all 30 entrances distributed in a 5x5 m area were of the same colony.(3)Three queen-right colonies of M.yessensis were excavated and the individual genetic profiles were compared between the queen and the female and male offspring (mostly adult or pupal alates) in each colony, using multi-locus DNA fingerprinting. Most males had DNA fragments absent in the queens, indicating that those males had developed from worker-laid eggs.