Food acceptability and distribution in the colony of the bigheaded ant, Pheidole megacephala (Fabr.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract

The distribution of oil, sugar, and protein was studied with dye and radioactive tracers among adult castes and larvae of laboratory colonies of the bigheaded ant, Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius). Larvae received 76.7% of the total recovered radioactive soybean oil in the colony at 6 h, and queens received I % at 24 h. Coconut oil was less acceptable than other oils to worker ants. Sugars were highly acceptable to all members in the colony; no delay was observed by workers in feeding larvae and queens. Glucose was more acceptable than fructose. The protein composite (blended fried chopped meat and cooked chicken egg) was highly acceptable to workers and was fed to larvae and queens within 3 h. Workers distributed 87.5% of the total radioactive defatted egg yolk to larvae and only 2.2% to queens.