Exploitation of food resources by the ant Tapinoma nigerrimum (Hym., Formicidae)

This ant is diurnal at the beginning of the season (March-May) but it becomes crepuscular and nocturnal from then to November, when it starts hibernation. During summertime, activity outside the nest decreases. It mainly collects aphid honeydew but also some animal items. T. nigerrimum appears to be an aggressive species that drives away all other ants but Pheidole pallidula from food sources. T. nigerrimum and other honeydew-consuming ant species partition the exploitation of this food by tending different aphid colonies or tending them at different times of the year. -from Authors