Judd, T.M.*; Herbers, J.M.: The effects of moisture and time of year on the foraging preferences of the ant Pheidole ceres.

Colonies of the ant Pheidole ceres are faced with an environment filled with variable food sources. The colony must be able to allocate its foragers to these food sources in order to maximize its energy intake. In this study we explored the effects of two variables, time of year and moisture availability, on the food preferences of Pheidole ceres. Both field and lab experiments were performed in which we manipulated the environment and colony composition to see how these variables affect the colony’s foraging behavior and which individuals are involved in driving the colony’s food preferences.