2012 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Function and generality of sounds emitted by ant larvae
| Project/Area Number |
23657012
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Research Field |
Ecology/Environment
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| Research Institution | Hokkaido University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2011 – 2012
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| Keywords | 行動生態 / 社会性昆虫 / コミュニケーション / アリ / 幼虫 |
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| Research Abstract |
In the first year, I developed a portable recording video system of high quality to investigate the role of sound communication in ant colonies. Noise sound was intercepted by double-layer transparent plastic boards enclosing a small space where the insects were reared. The space was floored with a plastic paraffin paper connected with a microphone. This apparatus was put in a soundproof box with LED illumination and clear-vision video camera fixed on the box wall with a sound-absorbent sponge. I used it to collect sounds of myrmecophiles (e.g. Nyphanda larvae) and myrmicine ants including leaf-cutting ants Atta spp. which showed a high level of labor division and might be adopting sounds even for bilateral exchange ofinformation, which seemed analogous to our language.
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