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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does a "true ectoparasite" feed off?

2. Which of the following best describes the body of weaver ants?

3. Which of the following ant species is of most interest to Wilson and Holldobler in their discussion of fungus growing ants?

4. On which part of the host ant's body do Coxequesomidae mites live?

5. In what country did scientists Vepsalainen and Pisarski devise a three-tiered classification for hierarchical competition?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is an ant garden?

2. How do Teleutomyrmex schneideri ants survive?

3. What are trophobiants? Why are they compared to cattlers?

4. In his study of army ants published in 1948, what does Schnerila claim happens to the queen as her brood reaches maturity?

5. What interesting collecting method did Harlow Shapely use when preserving ants?

6. How do weaver ants build their nests?

7. What type of ant predator did Levieux discover by digging under the soil on the Ivory Coast in 1983?

8. What are the dangers of using an aspirator when collecting ant samples for study?

9. What is acacia?

10. What amusing anecdote does V. Wolfgang von Hagen give about leafcutter ants?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Each ant colony goes through three distinct phases of the life cycle. Explain what happens during the founding stages of an ant colony. Explain what happens during the ergonomic stages. Finally, explain what happens during the reproductive phase. How do all three of these phases work together as a life cycle?

Essay Topic 2

Pheromones are considered the most important asset to ant communication. Describe two different ways in which ants communicate using their pheromones. Explain how pheromones are emitted from the ant's body in both liquid and gas forms.

Essay Topic 3

Ants are considered a highly altruistic species of animals. Define altruism. Give two examples of ways in which ants are considered altruistic creatures. Finally, explain how the altruism found within ant societies benefits the colony as a whole. Do you think ants would survive were it not for their altruistic nature?

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