Allocation of liquid food to larvae via trophallaxis in colonies of the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta 

@article{Cassill1995AllocationOL,
  title={Allocation of liquid food to larvae via trophallaxis in colonies of the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta
},
  author={Deby Lee Cassill and Walter R. Tschinkel},
  journal={Animal Behaviour},
  year={1995},
  volume={50},
  pages={801-813}
}
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95 Citations
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95 Citations

A duration constant for worker-to-larva trophallaxis in fire ants

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Regulation of Diet in the Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta

Fire ant workers and larvae to regulate the quality and type of food ingested is demonstrated and it is demonstrated that colony nutrition was regulated by a chain of demand.

Behavioral and developmental homeostasis in the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta.

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Effects of colony-level attributes on larval feeding in the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta

Investigation of the effects of colony size and worker:brood ratio on the rate of worker-to-larva trophallaxis in the fire ant reinforced previous research demonstrating that social feeding in theFire ant emerges from localized interactions rather than mass communication.

Larval begging behaviour in the ant Myrmica rubra

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Larval isolation and brood care in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants

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Larval cannibalism and worker-induced separation of larvae in Hypoponera ants: a case of conflict over caste determination?

In the ant genus Hypoponera, larvae actively feed on food provided by workers and here it is shown extremely low queenworker size differences in these ants: the lowest in H. opacior, where fertile wingless (intermorphic) queens weigh on average only 13% more than workers.

Feeding behaviour in the bumble bee Bombus terrestris

Results of the experiments indicate that indeed in B. terrestris larvae emit a short-range hunger-signal that can be perceived by workers and that can trigger worker behaviour such as “long pollen eating” (which usually precedes feeding) and feeding larvae, which strongly suggests that a feeding regime is not simply imposed on larvae by workers, however, the motivation of workers also plays a decisive role in feeding behaviour.

A larval hunger signal in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris

It is concluded that B. terrestris larvae signal their need for food via their cuticular chemicals, and the extent to which this form of communication could give larvae some control over their development is discussed.
...

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