Scientific publications
Rameline Prudence Guetsop-Ngouadjie
Other affiliations: University of Douala
Armand Didier Foguieng-Saha
Other affiliations: University of Douala
Paul Serge Mbenoun Massé
Mohamed Basile Moumite
Patrick Steve Tuekam-Kowa
Sedrick Junior Tsekané
Boris Fouelifack-Nintidem
Miric Biawa Kagmegni
Babelle Ngamaleu-Siewe
Edith Laure Kenne
Romaine Magloire Fantio
Abel Kayoum Yomon
Jeanne Aggripine Yetchom-Fondjo
Martin Kenné
American Journal of Entomology
Nesting system, diet behaviour, activity rhythm and predatory behaviour of <i>Crematogaster (Nematocrema) stadelmanni</i> Mayr, 1895 were studied in the field situation in suburbs of Douala (Littoral-Cameroon). Polycalic and polydomous nesting system were recorded. Large independent nests were positioned on the bark surface of trunks (50.8%) or the underside bark of the fork of large branches (49.2%) of cultivated or wild trees (45.8% and 54.2% respectively). Workers collected nectar from 18 plants from eight families: Asteraceae, Costaceae, Ehretiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Mimosaceae Phyllantaceae, Poaceae and Rutaceae. They collected honeydew from Aleyrodidae and four Hemipteran families from Sternorrhyncha suborder: Aphididae, Coccidae Pseudococcidae and Stictococcidae. These Hemipterans proliferated on 11 plant families: Anacardiaceae, Annonaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Costaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Myrtaceae, Poaceae, Rutaceae, Solanaceae and Urticaceae. Solid particles brought back to the nest were mostly from plants (72.5%) and weakly preys (27.5%). Sugary liquids were preferred over fats, carbohydrate sources, and even preys. Products were collected continuously (day and night) in the foliage of the host plant and neighbouring plants, shrubs and grasses. Workers occasionally brought back to the nest dead or dying larvae of grasshoppers and small particles of other arthropods (ants, flies, caterpillars). The sequence of behavioural acts recorded during the capture of larvae of <i>Ruspolia differens</i> (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) and adults of <i>Zonocerus variegatus</i> (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) (3 to 5 mm and 15 to 20 mm long respectively) were compared. The main sequence presented succession of seven acts: (1) detection by contact; (2) antennation; (3) attack-seizure; (4) short-range recruitment of nestmates in the vicinity; (5) spread-eagling of preys; (6) cutting up the prey on the spot; and (7) transport of pieces or whole prey to the nest. The stinging phase was not recorded. The duration of the capture of small prey (66 min. to 1 hr. 25 sec.; mean ± se: 1 hr. 57 min. 25 sec. ± 12 min. 2 sec.; 10 essays) was lower than that of large preys (2 hrs. 33 sec. to 4 hrs. 16 sec.; 2 hrs. 58 min. 32 sec. ± 17 min. 15 sec.; 10 essays; Mann-Withney test: T = 72.00; p = 0.014). The long duration of captures suggested that spread-eagling and cutting up preys on the spot lasted a long time. <i>Cr. stadelmanni</i> is a poor predator indirectly harmful for wild or cultivated trees since their predatory aptitude is low compared to aggressive dominant arboreal-nesting ants and is counterbalanced by the propensity to honeydew.
