We studied the expression patterns of the foraging (for) gene in two species of ants, Pogonomyrmex barbatus, the harvester ant, and Linepithema humile, the Argentine ant. This gene encodes a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) and has been associated with the age-related transition from hive work to foraging activity in honeybees (Ben-Shahar et al. 2002). We cloned the ant for gene homologs in P. barbatus and L. humile and designed real-time quantitative RT-PCR probes for both ant species. Using the probes, we quantified and compared the level of expression of this gene in workers of different tasks and in queens and males in both species.
Species 1: HYMENOPTERA FORMICIDAE Linepithema humile (Argentine ant)
Species 2: HYMENOPTERA FORMICIDAE Pogonomyrmex barbatus (harvester ant)
Keywords: foraging
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