scholarly journals Microgynous Queens in the Paleartic Ant,Manica rubida: Dispersal Morphs or Social Parasites?

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (17) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alain Lenoir ◽  
Séverine Devers ◽  
Philippe Marchand ◽  
Christophe Bressac ◽  
Riitta Savolainen
Keyword(s):  
Social Parasites ◽  
Manica Rubida

scholarly journals The Origin of Workerless Parasites inLeptothorax(S. Str.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

1995 ◽  
Vol 102 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 195-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Heinze
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Number ◽  
Evolutionary Origin ◽  
Social Parasites ◽  
Leptothorax Acervorum ◽  
Using Data

The evolutionary origin of workerless parasitic ants parasitizing colonies ofLeptothorax(s.str.) is investigated using data on morphology, chromosome number, and allozyme phenotype of both social parasites and their hosts. Of the three previously proposed pathways, the evolution of workerless parasites from guest ants or slave-makers is unlikely, at least according to a phenogram obtained by UPGMA clustering of Nei's similarities based on seven enzymes, lntraspecific evolution of the workerless parasitesDoronomyrmex goesswaldi, D. kutteri, andD. pacisfrom their common host,Leptothorax acervorumcannot be excluded with the present data. The workerless parasiteL. paraxenus, however, clearly differs from its host,L.cf.canadensis, in morphology and biochemistry, and most probably did not evolve from the latter species. It is proposed to synonymizeDoronomyrmexunderLeptothorax(s.str.).

scholarly journals MyrmicaAnts and Their Butterfly Parasites with Special Focus on the Acoustic Communication

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Barbero ◽  
D. Patricelli ◽  
M. Witek ◽  
E. Balletto ◽  
L. P. Casacci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Emission ◽  
Acoustic Communication ◽  
Food Plant ◽  
Chemical Mimicry ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Social Parasites ◽  
Ant Nests ◽  
Arthropod Species

About 10,000 arthropod species live as ants' social parasites and have evolved a number of mechanisms allowing them to penetrate and survive inside the ant nests.Myrmicacolonies, in particular, are exploited by numerous social parasites, and the presence of their overwintering brood, as well as of their polygyny, contributes to make them more vulnerable to infestation. Butterflies of the genusMaculineaare among the most investigatedMyrmicainquilines. These lycaenids are known for their very complex biological cycles.Maculineaspecies are obligated parasites that depend on a particular food plant and on a specificMyrmicaspecies for their survival.Maculinealarvae are adopted byMyrmicaants, which are induced to take them into their nests by chemical mimicry. Then the parasite spends the following 11–23 months inside the ants' nest. Mimicking the acoustic emission of the queen ants,Maculineaparasites not only manage to become integrated, but attain highest rank within the colony. Here we review the biology ofMaculinea/Myrmicasystem with a special focus on some recent breakthrough concerning their acoustical patterns.

Cleptoparasites, social parasites and a common host: Chemical insignificance for visiting host nests, chemical mimicry for living in

2012 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 1259-1264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessia Uboni ◽  
Anne-Geneviève Bagnères ◽  
Jean-Philippe Christidès ◽  
Maria Cristina Lorenzi
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Mimicry ◽  
Social Parasites

NEST SITE SELECTION BY BUMBLE BEES (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE) IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA

1978 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. W. Richards
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Bumble Bees ◽  
Social Parasites ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Coexisting Species ◽  
Nesting Preferences

AbstractThe niche breadth and overlap in nesting preferences of 15 species of bumble bees were investigated in Alberta. Some of the factors that influence the distribution of nesting sites and abundance of species and permit the species to coexist in sympatry are discussed. Artificial domiciles were used as potential nesting sites. Some species were specialists in terms of nest site selection while others were generalists. The few natural nests found, the long periods spent by queens searching for nests, the high frequency of usurpation or direct interference and death of intruders, and the frequency of high niche overlap values between species are evidence that nesting sites are limited and are incompletely partitioned among the coexisting species. Usurpation also demonstrates the competition among individuals and species. Phenological differences in nest establishment influence the competition among the species. Camouflaging of tunnels presumably reduces the intensity of usurpation and protects queens and the brood from inclement weather and from social parasites (e.g., Psithyrus) and predators.

scholarly journals The evolution of social parasitism in Formica ants revealed by a global phylogeny

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek L Borowiec ◽  
Stefan P Cover ◽  
Christian Rabeling
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
New World ◽  
Social Parasitism ◽  
Social Parasite ◽  
Colony Foundation ◽  
Parasite Diversity ◽  
Social Parasites ◽  
Evolutionary Trajectories ◽  
Competing Hypotheses ◽  
Temporary Social Parasitism

Studying the behavioral and life history transitions from a cooperative, eusocial life history to exploitative social parasitism allows for deciphering the conditions under which changes in behavior and social organization lead to diversification. The Holarctic ant genus Formica is ideally suited for studying the evolution of social parasitism because half of its 178 species are confirmed or suspected social parasites, which includes all three major classes of social parasitism known in ants. However, the life-history transitions associated with the evolution of social parasitism in this genus are largely unexplored. To test competing hypotheses regarding the origins and evolution of social parasitism, we reconstructed the first global phylogeny of Formica ants and representative formicine outgroups. The genus Formica originated in the Old World during the Oligocene (~30 Ma ago) and dispersed multiple times to the New World. Within Formica, the capacity for dependent colony foundation and temporary social parasitism arose once from a facultatively polygynous, independently colony founding ancestor. Within this parasitic clade, dulotic social parasitism evolved once from a facultatively temporary parasitic ancestor that likely practiced colony budding frequently. Permanent social parasitism evolved twice from temporary social parasitic ancestors that rarely practiced colony budding, demonstrating that obligate social parasitism can originate from different facultative parasitic backgrounds in socially polymorphic organisms. In contrast to inquiline ant species in other genera, the high social parasite diversity in Formica likely originated via allopatric speciation, highlighting the diversity of convergent evolutionary trajectories resulting in nearly identical parasitic life history syndromes.

Social parasites

2006 ◽  
Vol 47 (47/1-2) ◽  
pp. 377-408
Author(s):  
Sheila Fitzpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Social Parasites

scholarly journals Brood parasitism in eusocial insects (Hymenoptera): role of host geographical range size and phylogeny

2019 ◽  
Vol 374 (1769) ◽  
pp. 20180203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jukka Suhonen ◽  
Jaakko J. Ilvonen ◽  
Tommi Nyman ◽  
Jouni Sorvari
Keyword(s):  
Brood Parasitism ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Geographical Range ◽  
Social Parasite ◽  
Brood Parasite ◽  
Social Parasites ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
Eusocial Insects ◽  
Interspecific Brood Parasitism ◽  
Logistic Regressions

Interspecific brood parasitism is common in many animal systems. Brood parasites enter the nests of other species and divert host resources for producing their own offspring, which can lead to strong antagonistic parasite–host coevolution. Here, we look at commonalities among social insect species that are victims of brood parasites, and use phylogenetic data and information on geographical range size to predict which species are most probably to fall victims to brood parasites in the future. In our analyses, we focus on three eusocial hymenopteran groups and their brood parasites: (i) bumblebees, (ii) Myrmica ants, and (iii) vespine and polistine wasps. In these groups, some, but not all, species are parasitized by obligate workerless inquilines that only produce reproductive-caste descendants. We find phylogenetic signals for geographical range size and the presence of parasites in bumblebees, but not in ants and wasps. Phylogenetic logistic regressions indicate that the probability of being attacked by one or more brood parasite species increases with the size of the geographical range in bumblebees, but the effect is statistically only marginally significant in ants. However, non-phylogenetic logistic regressions suggest that bumblebee species with the largest geographical range sizes may have a lower likelihood of harbouring social parasites than do hosts with medium-sized ranges. Our results provide new insights into the ecology and evolution of host–social parasite systems, and indicate that host phylogeny and geographical range size can be used to predict threats posed by social parasites, as well to design efficient conservation measures for both hosts and their parasites. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The coevolutionary biology of brood parasitism: from mechanism to pattern’.

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