costa
(s) (noun), costae
(pl)
An elevated ridge rounded at the crest: Such costae can be exemplified by the rib-like sections of a plant, like the midribs of a leaf, or by the edges of an insect's wing.
dealate, dealated
(adjective) (not comparable)
Referring to the loss of the wings of an insect: The dealate condition of a female insect involves the shedding of her wings, as an inseminated female.
decumbent
(adjective), more decumbent, most decumbent
A reference to a hair that stands 10 to 40 degrees from the surface of an ant's body: Decumbent hair include those that are lying down on the surface of a body, or those that are very close to the skin
delation
(s) (noun), delations
(pl)
The removal of the wings by the ant queens: Delation can also take place by male termites during or immediately following the nuptial flight and prior to colony foundation.
domatium
(s) (noun), domatia
(pl)
1. A specialized structure, such as inflated stems, used by ant plants for the housing of ant colonies:
Domatia are tiny chambers produced by plants that house arthropods.
Domatia differ from galls in that they are produced by the plant rather than being induced by their inhabitants.
Ant domatia are inhabited by ants in what is considered to be a mutualist relationship between the ants and the plants.
2. Etymolgy: from Latin domus, "home".
dominance hierarchy, dominance order
The physical domination of some members of a group by other members, in relatively orderly and long-lasting patterns.
Except for the highest-ranking and lowest-ranking individuals, a given member will dominate one or more of its companions and be dominated in turn by one or more of the others.
The hierarchy is initiated and sustained by hostile behavior, albeit sometimes of a subtle and indirect nature.
dorsum
The upper surface.
dulosis, slavery
The relation in which workers of a parasitic (dulotic) ant species raid the nests of another species, capture brood (usually in the form of pupae), and rear them as enslaved nest mates.
emigration
The movement of a colony from one nest site to another.
encounter
A physical act or threat of action by one individual or colony that reduces the freedom or genetic fitness of another.
enemy specification
The exaggerated alarm response to species of ants and other arthropods hat pose an unusually severe threat to the colony.
epigaeic
Living, or at least foraging, primarily above ground; as opposed to hypogaeic.
erect
A reference to a hair that stands straight up, or nearly straight up, from the cuticle.
ergatogyne
Any form morphologically intermediate between the worker and the queen.
ergatoid male, ergatomorphic male
An individual ant with normal male genitalia and a worker-like body.
Here are two additional word units that deal directly with "ants":
formic- and myrmeco-.
Index of additional Scientific and Technological Topics.
Bibliography of Entomology or Insect Terms (The Ants).
