Ecological and Taxonomical Studies of Social Insects in Australia (second project)

本研究项目旨在通过生态学和分类学调查相结合的方法，澄清澳大利亚群居昆虫(黄蜂、蚂蚁、白蚁)和亚群居蟑螂的性质。这项研究是在1989-1990年继续第一个项目(1986-1988年)进行的。在新南威尔士州卷心菜树溪的一座桥下，观察了大巢聚集物中的罗巴利迪亚雌鸟的社会行为。每个梳子都由一群特定的雌性保卫，雌性的冠间漂移并不频繁。对雌鸟的巢存活率和繁殖率进行了研究。对桃金娘属(Pilosula)进行了核型和分类学调查。该群中的物种被发现在核学上高度分化。还观察到了显著但微妙的形态差异。现在清楚的是，Myrmecia(Pilosula)复合体至少包括5个独立的、相似的物种。对8种嗜白蚁进行了研究，重点研究了它们对白蚁土丘的巢位依赖性与它们对肉蚁Irydomyrmex的白蚁防御率之间的关系。与防御型蚂蚁共生的许多白蚁群体活力旺盛，表明这种蚂蚁与白蚁的关系是互惠互利的。对昆士兰东北部热带雨林白蚁群落进行了研究。可见，澳大利亚热带雨林的物种组成、种群密度、取食习性和生活型组成与非洲、东南亚和美洲的热带雨林有很大的不同。对以腐木为食的亚社会蟑螂进行了调查，并对其家系关系、若虫生长和种群密度进行了研究。生活在地下的巨型犀牛在春天形成了家庭群体。成年雌性与后代的亲密关系可能会持续一年。

This research project aims to clarify the nature of social insects (wasps, ants, termites) and subsocial cockroach in Australia by combining ecological and taxonomical survey. The research was carried out in 1989-1990 continued the first project (1986-1988).1. Social behavior of Ropalidia Plebeiana female 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.2. Karyological and taxonomical 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 Myrmecia (pilosula) complex includes at least 5 separate, similar species.3. Eight termitophilous ant specied were studied with special reference to the relationship between their nest-site dependence to the termite mounds and their termitariadefence rate against meat ant Irydomyrmex. 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 northeastern Queensland was studied. It is clear that species composition, population density, feeding habits and life type composition in Australian rain forests were quite different from those in the tropical rain forest of Africa, Southeast Asia and America.5. Subsocial cockroaches which feed on rotten wood were investigated with special reference to the familial association, growth of nymphs and population density. Macropanesthia rhinoceros living un underground makes the family groups in spring time. The intimate adult female-offspring relationship may continue for a year.