中国海胆蚁属分类研究（膜翅目：蚁科）

记录中国海胆蚁属Echinopla蚂蚁3种,即乞拉朋海胆蚁E.cherapunjiensis、条纹海胆蚁E.striat和侧毛海胆蚁E.lateropilosa,后者为中国新记录种.提供了工蚁形态描述、测量数据、地理分布和高清彩图,编制了工蚁分种检索表.     

Extrafloral nectaries as a deterrent mechanism against seed predators in the chemically protected weed Crotalaria pallida (Leguminosae)

Abstract In several plants, extrafloral nectaries (EFN) are located close to the reproductive structures, suggesting that ants may act as a defence against specialized seed predators that overcome chemical defences. Alternatively, ants may also deter herbivores in a generalized manner, thereby protecting the whole plant. In this work, we examined the relationship between the chemically protected weed Crotalaria pallida Ait. (Leguminosae) that bears EFN, its specialized seed predator, the larvae of the arctiid moth Utetheisa ornatrix L. (Arctiidae) and ants. We tested two hypotheses related to the type of deterrence caused by ants. The Seed Predator Deterrence Hypothesis predicts that ant deterrence is directed primarily towards herbivores that destroy seeds and other reproductive structures, without attacking herbivores on vegetative structures. The General Deterrence Hypothesis states that ants are general in their effects, equally deterring herbivores in vegetative and reproductive structures. Our results supported the predictions of the Seed Predator Deterrence Hypothesis, namely, that (i) ant activity on EFN was related to the vulnerability of reproductive structures to attack by U. ornatrix; (ii) ant patrolling was restricted almost entirely to racemes; (iii) ants removed termites used as baits more frequently on racemes than on leaves; and (iv) U. ornatrix larvae were often expulsed from the racemes. These results indicate that EFN can act as another deterrent mechanism in chemically protected plants by promoting the expulsion of specialist seed predators.     

Characterization of microsatellite markers for the invasive ant species Anoplolepis gracilipes

We present primer sequences for eight polymorphic microsatellite loci for the formicine ant Anoplolepis gracilipes, a serious pest species in South‐East Asia and Pacific islands and still spreading on all continents. Microsatellite loci were isolated with a highly efficient method of enrichment. The number of alleles ranged from two to 19 with an observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.842 to 1.0. The markers were designed for a sociogenetic study as well as for population genetics.     

Task Allocation Depends on Matriline in the Ponerine Ant Gnamptogenys striatula Mayr

Matriline and the predominant social tasks performed by workers are correlated in the functionally polygynous ponerine ant Gnamptogenys striatula. This result favors the idea that polygyny might have been secondarily selected and maintained in ants because it provided more genetic variability and, thus, more potential variation in the regulation of the division of labor within mutualistic societies. As in previous studies on ants, nepotism could not be demonstrated. Because of the relatively small number of individuals per colony, these ponerine ants constitute a valuable model for exploring how polyethism is determined in insect societies.     

Limiting the success of stem borers (Prodoxus quinquepunctellus) in yuccas: indirect effects of ants, aphids, and fruit position

Abstract.  1. Although the moth–yucca mutualism is often studied as a pairwise interaction, yucca plants are also the sole host for a variety of other visitors. One of these additional visitors is a stem-boring moth, Prodoxus quinquepunctellus.
2. In this study, it is shown how the reproductive success of Prodoxus indirectly depends on the interactions between yuccas and their pollinators ( Tegeticula , Prodoxidae) as well as the indirect effects of ants and aphids.
3. Aggressive wood ants foraging on yuccas will attack adult Prodoxus moths while attempting to oviposit. This reduces the number of eggs laid in yucca stalks, leading to fewer larvae feeding in the stalks.
4. Once in the stalk, the survival of Prodoxus eggs/larvae depends upon the rate at which the flowering stalks dry out during fruit maturation. Portions of the stalk above the highest fruit dry out quickly and survivorship approaches zero in these dry sections, while larvae in green sections of the flowering stalk have significantly higher survival rates. The presence of aphids feeding on the stalk slows down the rate of stalk drying and could lead to increased survival of Prodoxus larvae.
5. Overall, ants have strong indirect effects on P. quinquepunctellus by controlling how many eggs are laid in the stalk and by influencing the distribution of aphids. However, it is primarily the presence and position of the fruit that can affect larval survivorship, and fruit position is a function of pollinator visits and resource limitation. These complex interactions illustrate the importance of studying the yucca–moth mutualism in a community context.     

Differences in worker caste behaviour of Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in response to larvae of Anthene emolus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

The larvae of Anthene emolus (Lycaenidae) cannot survive in the wild without their associated ant Oecophylla smaragdina (Formicidae) . The ants groom the lycaenid larvae for secretions and, in turn, protect them from parasitoids and predators. Both major and minor worker ants tend larvae, although, in the present study, the frequencies of tending by different castes proved to be significantly different. Ants also tended late instars significantly more than young larvae. O. smaragdina ants of the same colony were observed fighting when A. emolus larvae were present. Aggression was exhibited by the major workers against the minor workers that tried to tend secreting larvae. Major ants precluded the minors from the most nutritious secretions, leaving minors to tend the less productive, early instars. On a few occasions, aggression was unchecked and major workers killed the larvae they were tending (presumably accidentally). When larvae were experimentally reared with only one caste of ant, the resulting butterflies showed no differences in dry weight. Mortality was high when larvae were reared with only minor ants or in the absence of ants.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 88 , 391–395.     

Interspecific Trail Following and Commensalism Between the Ponerine Ant Gnamptogenys menadensis and the Formicine Ant Polyrhachis rufipes

Gnamptogenys menadensis (subfamily Ponerinae) foragers use chemical trails to home to their nests. Although prey capture and retrieval are generally performed solitarily, trails seem to enhance foraging to areas rich in prey or to sugar sources. Trail laying and following are most conspicuous during nest migration. These trails are laid down by tapping the sting onto the substrate. In laboratory tests, only extracts from the Dufour's gland were readily followed. Workers of Polyrhachis rufipes (Formicinae) use the trails of G. menadensis to gain access to otherwise nonavailable sugar sources. When they encounter Gnamptogenys foragers, P. rufipes workers show a typical aggressive antennal boxing, to which Gnamptogenys reacts with a submissive behavior. This is the first report of commensalism between a ponerine and a formicine ant.     

Life history,damage assessment and control of Trioza hopeae (Hemiptera: Psylloidea), a serious pest on Hopea odorata (Malvales: Dipterocarpaceae) in Vietnam

Young plants of the commercially important timber species Hopea odorata Roxb. are seriously damaged by the psyllid Trioza hopeae Burckhardt & Vu in nurseries in South Central and Southern Vietnam. Farmers routinely use Class 1 toxic insecticides to control the psyllids but these pose serious health risks in the urban environment. As a precursor to developing a pest management strategy, we studied the life cycle of T. hopeae and trialed several control measures. Trioza hopeae is polyvoltine with overlapping generations peaking in mid wet season. Females laid approximately 135 eggs; however, there was a natural attrition rate of about 80% in first‐instar nymphs due to the nymph's inability to find a suitable feeding site. Feeding nymphs induced pit galls on young H. odorata leaves and were present on all trees examined during the study. The pre‐adult life cycle lasted approximately 13 days and adult life span approximately seven days. Several toxic insecticides were found to be effective for controlling T. hopeae, but a novel non‐toxic alternative was equally as effective. We discuss these methods and potential biological control measures.