Somogyi Múzeumok Közleményei 16. (2004)
Hartner Anna: A Formica rufa L. és Formica pratensis Retz. (Hym.: Formicidae) napi aktivitásának vizsgálata belső-somogyi mintaterületeken
341 The examination of thedaily activity of the Formica rufa L. and Formica pratensis Retz. (Нут.: Formicidae) in sample areas in Inner-Somogy ANNA HARTNER The auctor studies the daily activity rhythm of the Formica rufa L. and Formica pratensis Retz. During the research she came to the following conclusions: The daily activity rhythm of each examined Formica species had 2 maximums and one minimum as shown in figures 1. a —c. The daily activity shows much higher values during the early summer period, than at the end of the vegetation season (Fig. 2.). From among the examined climatic factors the temperature and the precipitation have considerable effect on the rhythm of the daily activity (the daily changes in temperature, the local heating effect of direct sunshine on the soil surface and on the surface of the ant-hill and the quantity of precipitation). According to the above examinations the daily activity of Formica rufa L. is limited by the following extreme values: 7—37 °C by the ant-hill No. 1, 8—39 °C by the anthill No. II. (Fig.3.) When the extreme value is close to the maximum, the activity is decreased by direct sunshine (Fig. 5.), when it is near the minimum value, the direct sunshine has an oppostűite effect on the activity (Fig. 6.). Until there is considerable precipitation, the traffic on the ant roads is permanent, the heavy or continous rain causes a temporary halt in the activity (Fig. 7.).
