scholarly journals Bacterial communities within Phengaris (Maculinea) alcon caterpillars are shifted following transition from solitary living to social parasitism of Myrmica ant colonies

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 4452-4464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Szenteczki ◽  
Camille Pitteloud ◽  
Luca P. Casacci ◽  
Lucie Kešnerová ◽  
Melissa R.L. Whitaker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Social Parasitism ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Solitary Living ◽  
Maculinea Alcon

scholarly journals Plant defences against ants provide a pathway to social parasitism in butterflies

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1811) ◽  
pp. 20151111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Patricelli ◽  
Francesca Barbero ◽  
Andrea Occhipinti ◽  
Cinzia M. Bertea ◽  
Simona Bonelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Gravid Female ◽  
Social Parasitism ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Origanum Vulgare ◽  
Gene Expressions ◽  
Social Parasites ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Host Interactions ◽  
Main Period

Understanding the chemical cues and gene expressions that mediate herbivore–host-plant and parasite–host interactions can elucidate the ecological costs and benefits accruing to different partners in tight-knit community modules, and may reveal unexpected complexities. We investigated the exploitation of sequential hosts by the phytophagous–predaceous butterfly Maculinea arion , whose larvae initially feed on Origanum vulgare flowerheads before switching to parasitize Myrmica ant colonies for their main period of growth. Gravid female butterflies were attracted to Origanum plants that emitted high levels of the monoterpenoid volatile carvacrol, a condition that occurred when ants disturbed their roots: we also found that Origanum expressed four genes involved in monoterpene formation when ants were present, accompanied by a significant induction of jasmonates. When exposed to carvacrol, Myrmica workers upregulated five genes whose products bind and detoxify this biocide, and their colonies were more tolerant of it than other common ant genera, consistent with an observed ability to occupy the competitor-free spaces surrounding Origanum . A cost is potential colony destruction by Ma. arion , which in turn may benefit infested Origanum plants by relieving their roots of further damage. Our results suggest a new pathway, whereby social parasites can detect successive resources by employing plant volatiles to simultaneously select their initial plant food and a suitable sequential host.

scholarly journals First screening of bacterial communities of Microdon myrmicae and its ant host: do microbes facilitate the invasion of ant colonies by social parasites?

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
pp. 43-56
Author(s):  
Giulia Scarparo ◽  
Paul Rugman-Jones ◽  
Marco Gebiola ◽  
Andrea Di Giulio ◽  
Quinn S. McFrederick
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Social Parasites ◽  
Ant Colonies
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document