| Polyergus samurai | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Genus: | Polyergus |
| Species: | P. samurai |
| Binomial name | |
| Polyergus samurai (Yano, 1911) |
|
Polyergus samurai is a species of insect in family Formicidae. It is endemic to Japan. The queen and workers of this species are black or dark brown in color unlike the more western species generally matching the host species in color. Like other species of the genus it is a parasite to host Formica species. The colony begins when a young queen leaves her parent colony and mates. The queen then searches for a suitable host colony. When the queen invades the host colony and kills the resident queen or queens and adopts the colony's scent. She then takes the role as queen laying eggs destined to become her first slave makers. When the original Formica work force is starting to die out the new workers of the colony begin to search for other colonies of the Formica to raid. Once a colony is located workers will gather above the nest before leaving in a large group to the nest. Once workers reach the host Formica nest they rush in and attempt to steal as much large larvae and pupae as possible before returning to the nest. The raids never kill the queen of suitable host species so the colony can be raided repeatedly over the summer.