ABSTRACT
As monogyne ant colonies become larger, the queen’s reproductive output must also increase (Wilson 1971). Oviposition and colony growth studies on the imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta have been reported by several investigators (Markin et al. 1973, Markin and Dillier 1971, Markin et al. 1972, Wood 1979, Green 1962, Wilson and Eads 1949 and more recently Porter and Tschinkel 1985, 1986; Tschinkel 1988a). Tschinkel (1988b) reported on the social control of oviposition and indicated that queen weight, total follicles, follicles per ovariole, time spent feeding and the number of 4th instar larvae are positively correlated to S. invicta egg-laying rates. The purpose of this study was to examine how temperature affects 5. invicta’s queen oviposition rates and colony growth. This paper will present an overview of this work.
