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Five species of neotropical Ponerinae ants, Ectatomma permagnum Forel, E. quadridens Fabr., E. ruidum Roger, E. tuberculatum Olivier and Pachycondyla apicalis Latreille, were studied. The genus Ectatomma, consisting of 14 species in the tropical forests of Central and South America, has been studied previously in relation to the stridulatory organ only. Stridulations were heard, in the four species considered in this paper, during artificial disturbance of individuals or of the whole colony; so the role of sound production during normal life is still uncertain. Pachycondyla apicalis, belonging to Central American forests, is occasionally present in cocoa and coffee plantations. The recordings made under laboratory conditions revealed the emission of pulse trains with very clear pulses extending in frequency to more than 75 kHz. The sounds recorded from the workers of the genus Ectatomma appeared homogeneous in their acoustic structure. They were typically emitted in long sequences and were made o...

This research represents the first description of stridulations produced by the different castes (gynes, males, workers) of the harvesting ants Messor minor and M. wasmanni. Further information on the stridulatory, sounds produced by M. capitatus and M. structor are also given; The sounds produced by the examined samples (n = 103) of the genus Messor are homogenous in their acoustic structure and consist of long sequences of pulse‐trains organized in two subunits. They are characterized by pulses with opposite phase produced by rapidly raising and lowering the gaster, so as to cause a series of ridges to rub against a scraper. For all samples of the tested species, the maximum frequency values lie within the ultrasonic range (> 18–20 kHz) and vary between 41 and 98 kHz. This is the first recording of ultrasounds produced by ants of the genus Messor. Hence, the range of frequencies involved in sound production by these species is considerably wider than previously known. Moreover, the description ...