Predatory ants are likely to live at a safer distance from termites to capture prey and avoid defensive attacks, a perspective on conflict, coexistence, and neutralism

Abstract

Abstract Interactions between insects are an important ecological phenomenon characterised by both cooperation and competition. Ant-termite associations are well-established due to their ubiquity in varied natural environments, nesting grounds, or similar food interests. There exists a predator-prey relationship between the two as the ants are known to predate on termite while the prey, termite may execute ruthless defensive attacks when they build their nest in close proximity to each other and that can be a fatal encounter for both. While this association is a ‘necessary evil’ for termites and ants as they obtain benefits like protection and food from the colonies, both organisms have specific escape routes to ensure maximum benefit transfer with minimum conflict. Under the theory of territorial occupation and area dominance, this study aimed to estimate how close a predatory ant builds its nest to its prey termite colonies to avoid the defensive attacks from the termites in a large area where nesting space is not limited. Despite the significant risk of getting predated, we wondered how close a termite might forage to a predatory ant's nest. In this investigation, we observed the territorial occupation of a predatory ant, Solenopsis geminata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and an termite, Odontotermes redemanni (Isoptera: Termitidae), which often coexist in the same landscape. In order to determine the answers, the frequency of ant-nest distributions along a scale from several termite mounds, and the frequency and extent of termite foraging mud-gallery distributions radiating towards ant nests, were measured from ten study mounds dispersed in the study location. Our data suggest that ants S. geminata may avoid O. redemanni mounds to prevent assault. However, they keep a safe distance of atleast 5 to 10 metres (Zone of maximum benefit transfer) while avoiding Zone of conflict (0-5m) and Zone of minimum benefit transfer (0-15m) to increase their chances of catching prey. Our data indicate that both organisms are likely to avoid direct fighting while coexisting in the same ecological zone. The present findings demonstrate how the two natural competitors like ants and termites, frequently in a predator-prey relationship, co-adapt to precision prey capturing while avoiding defensive counter attacks.