Two distinct morphs in the wood ant Formica polyctena in Finland: a result of hybridization?

samples from Finland may repre-senttwodifferenttypesbasedonqueenmorphology.However,workercastehasnotbeenstudiedcompletely.Ifoundthathairinessofworkersfromdifferentcol -onies was bimodally distributed. Morphs (based on bimodality) differed in theabundanceoferecthairsoneightoutof11studiedbodyparts.Thehairiermorphmay be result of incomplete reproductive isolation between closely related spe-cies.

[1]  P. Pamilo,et al.  Recent speciation in the Formica rufa group ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): inference from mitochondrial DNA phylogeny. , 2004, Molecular phylogenetics and evolution.

[2]  M. Chapuisat Characterization of microsatellite loci in Formica lugubris B and their variability in other ant species , 1996, Molecular ecology.

[3]  R. Deslippe,et al.  Role of food supply in structuring a population of Formica ants , 1994 .

[4]  J. Niemelä,et al.  Small-scale heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of carabid beetles in the southern Finnish taiga , 1992 .

[5]  Norm Johnson,et al.  Formica nigricans Emery, 1909 - an ecomorph of Formica pratensis Retzius, 1783 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). , 1991 .

[6]  K. Vepsäläinen,et al.  Ant assemblages in the taiga biome: testing the role of territorial wood ants , 1989, Oecologia.

[7]  K. Vepsäläinen,et al.  Niche differentiation of ant species within territories of the wood ant Formica polyctena , 1989 .

[8]  K. Vepsäläinen,et al.  A competition hierarchy among boreal ants: impact on resource partitioning and community structure , 1988 .

[9]  Collingwood.,et al.  The Formicidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark , 1979 .

[10]  P. Niemelä,et al.  The impact of wood ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on the structure of invertebrate community on mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) , 2004 .

[11]  P. Douwes,et al.  Morphometric characteristics of Formica polyctena Foerst. and Formica rufa L. [Hymenoptera, Formicidae] from the Gorce Mts; Interspecific and intraspecific variations , 1997 .

[12]  L. Sundström,et al.  Monogyny and polygyny of Formica ants: a result of alternative dispersal tactics? , 1993 .

[13]  K. Lindström,et al.  Phenology and causation of nest heating and thermoregulation in red wood ants of the Formica rufa group studied in cariferous forest habitats in southern Finland , 1987 .

[14]  R. Rosengren,et al.  Foraging strategy of wood ants (Formica rufa group). I. Age polyethism and topographic traditions , 1977 .