Colony foundation of Tetramorium caespitum

Pleometrosis and polygyny have been observed in the European population of Tetramorium caespitum, however, data is lacking for the North American population. In Summer 2009 we studied the founding stage of this common urban ant via laboratory experiments with dealate gynes collected in Columbus, Ohio. Here we report the results of forced associations of gynes and grouping experiments in which gynes could remain solitary or join other gynes.