Colony composition and behavioral characteristics of Myrmoteras iriodum and M. jaitrongi in Ulu Gombak, Peninsular Malaysia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The colony composition and behavioral characteristics of the trap-jaw ants Myrmoteras iriodum and M. jaitrongi were studied in Ulu Gombak, Peninsular Malaysia. The following colony characteristics were common in both species: (1) Colony size was remarkably small, less than 10 workers on average with one mated dealate queen. Alate sexuals were produced in colonies with less than 10 workers. (2) Queens had a total of four ovarioles per individual (2+2) while workers had two (1+1). (3) Body size difference between queens and workers was not conspicuous: head width of queens was just 1.1 times bigger than that of workers. (4) Worker body size in small colonies was not significantly different from that in large colonies. (5) Virgin queens showed worker-like behavior. Finally, a solitary queen of M. iriodum that was kept in the laboratory showed non-claustral colony foundation. After producing five workers, an alate queen emerged.