I have been conducted research about artificial nest for predatory ant Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) in cacao field. They are a potential predator for cocoa pod borer (Conopomorpha smaragdina). In my research, the ants reject artificial nests from bamboo and dried cacao leaves inside. It makes me surprised, they prefer artificial nest from bamboo and dried banana leaves inside it. I think it similar dried leaves?what happen?
http://www.asian-myrmecology.org/publications/am06-119-128-offenberg-2014.pdf
This paper may give you some pointers on artificial domatia suitable for Oecophylla.
There are also Oecophylla/weaver ant farmers in Indonesia (probably on Java), maybe try contacting them to see how they culture Oecophylla as well. Here is a link showing some of their culture setups: http://www.antweb.org/antblog/2014/10/weaver-ant-farming.html
Hope this helps,
John.
Dear John
Thank you very much your article. It's very useful to me to know more about weaver ants..
I bet on the cacao's pilosity. It maybe can harm the callows, eggs and pupae, so ants avoid it.
Take a look: http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/K/Michael.E.Kaspari-1/PDF_reprints/Kaspari_2007_EcEn.pdf
See also: Rabeling, Christian, Manfred Verhaagh, and Marcos VB Garcia. "Observations On the Specialized Predatory Behavior of the Pitchfork-Mandibled Ponerine Ant Thaumatomyrmex paludis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Breviora (2012): 1-8.
Dear Carlos
Thanks a lot your answer and literature for me. I'm very appreciate it. In fact, when ants are given artificial nests of dried banana leaves tied together , they choose and stay inside, what do you think to this phenomenon ?did dried banana leaves contain chemicals compound can attract ants?
Maybe you should take a look at Dr. John Pickett or Dr. Martin Heil work.
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