Control microclimático en los domos de la hormiga Tapinoma nigerrimum (Nyl., 1886) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Dolichoderinae)

Abstract

Microclimatic thermoregulation in the nest-mounds of the ant Tapinoma nigerrirnum (Nyl., 1886) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Dolichoderinae)
The daily temperature rythms of the nest-mounds of the ant Tapinoma nigerrirnum were studied with the aim of determining the ecologicai meaning of this type of construction. The research was carried out during February and March 1983.
A high positive correlation was found between the temperatures of the nest-rnound and that of the ground, and a somewhat minor correlation between the latter and the temperature of the air (1.5 metres above ground level).
The results obtained upon rneasuring the temperature on four levels suggest that the construction of these nest-mounds implies and adaptative advantage for the species studied, since the constructions facilitate an intense caiorific exploitation of solar radiation dunng the day, and make a microclimatic thermoregulation in accordance with its requirements
possible.