Ecological and Taxonomical Studies of Social Insects in Australia

本研究计划旨在结合生态学和分类学调查，阐明澳大利亚社会性昆虫（黄蜂、蚂蚁、白蚁和亚社会性蟑螂）的性质。这项研究于1986-1987年在澳大利亚东部进行。在新南威尔士州的卷心菜树溪的一座桥下，观察到一个巨大的巢聚集内的Ropalidia plebeiana女性的社会行为。每一个梳子捍卫一组特定的女性，和梳间漂移的女性是不频繁的。研究了雌蜂的巢存活率和繁殖率。庞大的巢群可能对这个物种有利，因为它们能够实现高繁殖率。本文对桃金娘属（Myrmulus pilosula）类群进行了核型和分类学研究。该组的物种被发现是核型高度分化。还观察到了显著但微妙的形态学差异。现在很清楚，M。（pilosula）复合体包括至少5个独立的、相似的种。本文研究了8种白蚁对蚁丘的巢址依赖性与对肉蚁的防御率之间的关系。与防御型蚂蚁同居的白蚁群体中，许多白蚁群体的生活力很强，说明这种蚂蚁-白蚁关系是互惠的.对昆士兰州东北部热带雨林的白蚁群落进行了调查。结果表明，澳大利亚热带雨林的种类、密度、食性和生活型组成与非洲、亚洲和美洲的热带雨林有很大的不同.对以腐木和落叶为食的亚社会性蟑螂进行了调查，特别是对家族关系、种群生长和种群密度进行了研究。野外观察表明，大腹蛛在春季形成家庭群体，雌蛛与子代的亲密关系可持续一年。

This research project aims to clarify the nature of social insects (wasp, ant, termite and subsocial cockroach) in Australia by combining ecological and taxonomic survey. The research was carried out in 1986-1987 in eastern part of Australia.1. Social behaviour of Ropalidia plebeiana females within a huge nest aggregation was observed under a bridge in Cabbage Tree Creek of New South Wales. Each comb was defended by a group of particular females, and intercomb drift of females was not frequent. Nest survival rates and reproductive rates of females were studied. The huge aggregations of nests are probably benefical for this species by enabling the realization of high reproductive rates.2. Karyological and taxonomic survey of the Myrmecia (pilosula) group were carried out. Species of the group were found to be karyologically highly differentiated. Significant but subtle morphological divergence has also been observed. It is now clear that the M.(pilosula) complex includes at least 5 separate, similar species.3. Eight termitophilous ant species were studied with special reference to the relationship between their nest-site dependence to the termite mounds and their termitaria-defence rate against meat ant. Many termite colonies cohabiting with the ants of defensive type were vigorous, suggesting that this ant-termite relationship is mutualistic.4. Termite community in the tropical rain forest of northeastren Queensland was surveyed. It is clear that fauna, density, feeding habits and life type composition in Australia were quite different from those in the tropical rain forest of Africa, Asia and America.5. Subsocial cockroaches which feed on rotten wood or leaf litter were investigated with special reference to familial association, growth of nymphs and population density. The field evidence shows Macropanesthia make the family groups in spring and the intimate adult female-offspring relationships may continue for a year.