Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society
Volume
38
Issue
4
Publication Date
10-1-1943
First Page
141
Last Page
141
Abstract
In July, 1936, at Muzo, Dept. Boyaca, Colombia, I observed a voluminous nest placed in a bush some five feet above the ground. It was closely woven of a fibrous material apparently taken from some plant, not of silk secreted by larvae. When found, it harbored a thriving colony of the aggressive ant, Dolichoderus (Monacis) trispinosus (Olivier). The late Prof. W. M. Wheeler, who named it, informed me, however, that this Dolichoderus is not known to weave a nest of its own, but instead usurps existing nests, particularly of termites and sometimes of other ants. He suggested that the nest found at Muzo may have been built by an Azteca, which was later driven from it by the Dolichoderus. At the time of observation part of the nest was also occupied by a colony of a small stingless bee, Trigona (Paratrigona) opac'a Cockerell, seemingly on friendly terms with the Dolichoderus. Mr. Herbert F. Schwarz, who kindly named the bee, called my attention to published accounts of similar associations, which he intends to discuss in his forth-coming Monograph of Trigona. Two myrmecophilous beetles were bred from the Dolichoderus colony: one a paussid, Homopterus steinbachi Kolbe; the other a cremastochilid of the genus Genuchinus (according to Prof. A. Reichensperger).
Recommended Citation
Bequaert, Joseph, "Stingless Bees Nesting in Association with Ants (Hymenoptera)" (1943). Ba. Paper 297.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/bee_lab_ba/297