The division of labour in a colony of Neoponera apicalis Latr. was studied, observations being made over a period of 21 days during which each member of the society was individually monitored. Processing the results by correlation analysis made it possible to establish the relationships between the various behavioural patterns observed. These were organized around three focal activities: care of the brood, non-specific activities in the nest and foraging. The division of ants into these three categories was relatively consistent. The social status of individual ants was determined by cluster analysis. This revealed the existence of two further subgroups: domestic workers and pre-foragers. The age of individuals is a probable factor governing the division of labour. This organization is consistent with that observed in higher species. However, the participation ofwinged females, and probably queens, in various tasks on the same basis as the workers may be considered a primitive trait characteristic of species of ponerine ants. Inglés

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