Lack of species differences in isoelectric focused proteins in the Formica rufa group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Proteins from head and thorax of Formica rufa L., F. polyctena Först. and F. pratensis Retz. were separated by isoelectric focusing. The species revealed around 68 general protein bands and 18 non-specific esterases. There was no differentiation in general proteins between investigated species, which was also true for non-specific esterases. No diagnostic isoelectric focused general protein or enzyme could be found. The absence of protein differentiation between species is compared with values for bird species at different taxonomic levels.