摘要
Aphaenogaster carolinensis Wheeler produces substrate vibrations by striking a substrate with its mandible and dragging its mandible across the surface. We have described this behavior and conducted laboratory trials to isolate some of the conditions under which it may occur. Individual strikes were consistent in pattern and duration, but there was great variation in the duration of, and the number of strikes associated with, a single substrate vibration generating event. In laboratory trials, this behavior occurred most frequently in response to confrontation with non-nest mate con-specifics and did not require the presence of a food source or colony territory to be initiated.