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<p>The yellow crazy ant (<i>Anoplolepis gracilipes</i> Smith, 1857) is a highly invasive species that poses serious threats to tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Its distribution is strongly influenced by climatic factors, particularly temperature, which affects its behavior and physiological performance. While the effects of temperature on learning are well-documented in vertebrates and some invertebrates, little is known about how temperature impacts learning in ants. In this study, we examined whether ambient temperature influences the associative olfactory learning ability of <i>A. gracilipes</i>. Ants were trained and tested under three temperature conditions (16&#xa0;°C, 22&#xa0;°C, and 28&#xa0;°C) using a Y-maze with odor-reward associations. Our results show that learning performance improves significantly with increasing temperature: ants trained at 28&#xa0;°C exhibited the highest learning success, achieving a 93.8% correct response rate after four training visits. Statistical analysis using a generalized linear model confirmed that both temperature and training frequency were significant predictors of learning success, while the type of reward odor had no significant effect. These findings suggest that temperature-dependent learning may enhance the fitness and invasive potential of <i>A. gracilipes</i> in warm climates, helping to explain its current distribution and projected range expansion under future climate change scenarios.</p>

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The learning efficiency of the ant Anoplolepis gracilipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) varies with temperature

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月6日

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  • C.-H. Chan,
  • T.-S. Lin,
  • H.-D. Lin,
  • C.-I. Chiu

摘要

The yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes Smith, 1857) is a highly invasive species that poses serious threats to tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Its distribution is strongly influenced by climatic factors, particularly temperature, which affects its behavior and physiological performance. While the effects of temperature on learning are well-documented in vertebrates and some invertebrates, little is known about how temperature impacts learning in ants. In this study, we examined whether ambient temperature influences the associative olfactory learning ability of A. gracilipes. Ants were trained and tested under three temperature conditions (16 °C, 22 °C, and 28 °C) using a Y-maze with odor-reward associations. Our results show that learning performance improves significantly with increasing temperature: ants trained at 28 °C exhibited the highest learning success, achieving a 93.8% correct response rate after four training visits. Statistical analysis using a generalized linear model confirmed that both temperature and training frequency were significant predictors of learning success, while the type of reward odor had no significant effect. These findings suggest that temperature-dependent learning may enhance the fitness and invasive potential of A. gracilipes in warm climates, helping to explain its current distribution and projected range expansion under future climate change scenarios.