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Australian Journal of Zoology Australian Journal of Zoology Society
Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Temperature Limits to Trailing Activity in the Australian Arid-Zone Meat Ant Iridomyrmex Pupureus Form Viridiaeneus.

P Greenaway

Australian Journal of Zoology 29(4) 621 - 630
Published: 1981

Abstract

Trailing activity is restricted to the hours of daylight and is further limited by the temperature of the air surrounding the ant (T*a) and by the net radiant heat load. Activity in winter begins well after sunrise and continues until late afternoon averaging c. 7.4 h per day. Midsummer activity occupies two distinct periods, one commencing at dawn and the other in late afternoon; the two together total about 6.8 h per day. The upper and lower values of T*a, between which ants are active are 43.5°C and 14°C. Radiant heat input is dissipated from the ants by convective heat loss.

https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO9810621

© CSIRO 1981

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