COLD RESISTANCE OF AN ANT Camponotus herculeanus (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE) IN VARIOUS CLIMATES IN NORTH-EAST ASIA

摘要

BACKGROUND: The relationship between cold resistance of widespread invertebrate species and overwintering temperatures has not been studied; however, this knowledge could have high prognostic value. OBJECTIVE: Using an ant species, Camponotus herculeanus, to investigate whether there is a relationship between cold resistance and overwintering temperatures in two climatically distinct regions, coastal and continental. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We determined seasonal changes in SCP and LT100% for overwintering ant stages, as well as winter temperatures in the nests. RESULTS: In the watershed of Upper Kolyma River (Aborigen field station), minimal temperature in the nests dropped to -26 degrees C; average SCP of the ants was -40 degrees C; LT100% - -37 degrees C. At the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk (Magadan) the minimum in the nest was -14 degrees C, SCP was -19 to -27 degrees C and LT100% was -32 degrees C. CONCLUSION: We have established a relationship between cold tolerance and overwintering conditions for geographically separate populations in the two areas with different climatic regimes.