Spatio-temporal variation influences the division of labour in Pseudomyrmex concolor Smith (Formicidae: Pseudomyrmecinae)

Pseudomyrmex concolor is an Amazonian ant that works as an induced biotic defence of its host plant. Nevertheless, there is no information about the division of labour in P. concolor and how it impacts its ant–plant mutualism. We hypothesized that the spatio-temporal variation in P. concolor workers might be reflected in labour division associated with colony/plant defence. For this, we took morphometric measures of ants present on the stem and leaves of Tachigali myrmecophila . They were marked, and the frequency with which they remained in the plant regions and behavioural responses to herbivores presence throughout the day was recorded. The results showed that the spatio-temporal variation influences the division of labour in the P. concolor colony, with workers showing local high fidelity over time and differentiated responses to the same behavioural stimulus, suggesting that the workers perform tasks depending on where they are located in the host plant. Probably workers of P. concolor exhibit age polyethism, with individuals performing different functions in the colony throughout their lifetime and changing their tasks in the colony as they get older and depending on their spatial location.