well-studied leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior and
two other ant species, Myrmcia ruginodis and Formica
fusca, that have a metapleural gland to place the relative
resistance of P. dives in context and test whether P. dives
show relatively frequent self-grooming. We then focus on
the comparison of P. dives to A. echinatior, examining the
resistance of ants in groups to test whether the species differ
in the frequency of allogrooming, and the resistance of ants
with and without functioning metapleural and venom
glands to test whether P. dives derives chemical resistance
from its venom. Finally we determine in vitro the
antimycotic activity of the venom from P. dives.