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Article History

Received: 16 March 2025

Revised: 27 April 2025

Accepted: 30 April 2025

First Online: 19 May 2025

Declarations

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: We used a repeated measures design to minimize the number of ant colonies involved in the experiments. In the field, we have a rotation system for collecting so that new colonies have enough time to inhabit patches where we have collected earlier. No specific permissions were required for sampling activities at this location because it is a disturbed quarry habitat, and the ants are not considered as an endangered or protected species. In the laboratory, ants were looked after throughout their lives or, where this was not possible, they were disposed of swiftly and humanely by placing the colony at a very low temperature.

: The authors declare no competing interests.