Miocene ants (Hymenoptera,Formicidae) from Crimea

Ant imprints, new and previously known, from Middle Miocene deposits near Kerch (Crimean Peninsula, Russia) are described or redescribed. A new Myrmicinae species, Solenopsis atavinus sp. nov., is described based on a wingless female. A winged female similar to the earlier described Dolichoderus tauricus Dlussky, 1981 is found: due to the excellent preservation of this specimen, the new specimen and the holotype of D. tauricus are redescribed and can be reclassified as Ponerites tauricus (Dlussky, 1981), comb. nov. Oecophylla taurica sp. nov. is described based on a partly preserved imprint of a female thorax with a forewing, the venation of which allows it to be positively identified as a weaver ant. Two other species are transferred from the formal genus Camponotites to Oecophylla based on forewing venation: O. kraussei (Dlussky et Rasnitsyn, 1999), comb. nov. (Early Eocene, United States) and O. macroptera (Dlussky, 1981), comb. nov. (Middle Miocene, Stavropol, Russia). One of the studied forewing imprints is similar in venation to Paraphaenogaster microphthalmus Dlussky, 1981, described from the Middle Miocene of Vishnevaya Balka (Stavropol province, Russia) and so is attributed to this species. Dolichoderus tavridus sp. nov. is described based on a forewing.     

Recent speciation in the Formica rufa group ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): inference from mitochondrial DNA phylogeny

This study examines phylogenetic relationships among six species of the Formica rufa group ants (F. polyctena, F. rufa, F. lugubris, F. paralugubris, F. aquilonia, and F. pratensis). The phylogeny based on a 2051bp fragment of mtDNA including cyt b, tRNASer, and ND1 genes supports the division of the group into three major clusters: one with the species F. polyctena and F. rufa, one with F. aquilonia, F. lugubris, and F. paralugubris, and the third one with F. pratensis. The interspecific divergence estimates (mean 0.98 +/- 0.15% for the main phylogenetic groups) imply that radiation took place during the Pleistocene. Comparison of the divergence estimates among the F. rufa group species with divergence estimates among other closely related species of insects suggests that speciation in the group was relatively fast, and the mitochondrial lineages of F. polyctena and F. rufa have not fully separated. The haplotype tree shows also signs of transfer of mtDNA between species through hybridisation. The distribution of polygyny (multiple queens per nest) along the branches of the tree indicates that the social type characterised by highly polygynous societies and large colonial networks, has originated at least three times. The species F. aquilonia and F. paralugubris that build such large supercolonies, cluster tightly together with very little nucleotide variation, suggesting that this type of social organisation could be a factor promoting speciation in the ants.     

Catalogue of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Bulgaria

The present catalogue of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Bulgaria is made on a base of critical reconsideration of literature (covering the period from 1892 till 2009 and part of 2010) as well as on examination of the authors' and several museum's collections. A lot of data were omitted in the previous Bulgarian monograph on ants, lots of new data were recently added and many important additions and alterations were made due to taxonomic revisions of Eurasian Formicidae during the last three decades. Two new species are reported for the country [Temnothorax graecus (Forel, 1911) and Temnothorax cf. korbi (Emery, 1924)].This catalogue contains a list of 163 ant species belonging to 40 genera of 6 subfamilies now known from Bulgaria. Synonyms and information on the previously reported names in relevant publications are given. Known localities of the species are grouped by geographic regions. Maps with concrete localities or regions for each species were prepared. The conservation status of 13 ant species is given as they are included in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Bulgarian Biodiversity Act. In comparison with adjacent Balkan regions the ant fauna of Bulgaria is quite rich and its core is composed of South European elements.     

Karyological studies of Japanese ants (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

The karyotypes of nine Japanese ants in three subfamilies (Ponerinae, Formicinae, and Myrmicinae) were successfully analysed by the improved squash technique. Three ponerine species had 2n=7 and n=4 (Ponera scabra), 2n=22 (Brachyponera sinensis), and 2n=28 and n=14 (Cryptopone sauteri). Four formicine species had 2n=18 and n=9 (Camponotus sp. and C. tokioensis), 2n=26 and n=13 (Camponotus japonicus), and 2n=30 and n=15 (Lasius niger). Two myrmicine species had 2n=18 and n=9 (Leptothorax congruus), and 2n=37, 38, 39, and n=17, 18, 19, 20 (Pheidole nodus). It was found that the variation of chromosome number observed in P. nodus was caused by Robertsonian type polymorphism.     

Further records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran

Wide ranging surveys of the ant fauna of Iran have enabled us to add a further 30 named species to the country list. A review of almost all the published literature and of photographs of unidentified specimens within the public domain gives a grand total of 248 species, from seven subfamilies and 37 genera. In the majority of instances, our own specimens were compared with type images available from antweb.com. This has led us to propose new or revised status for Cataglyphis turcomanica Crawley 1920, Lepisiota integrisquama (Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929), Lepisiota surchanica (Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929) and Messor obscurior Crawley 1920. We note that the total includes a number of what may be misidentifications and a small number of named species that seem unlikely to occur in Iran.     

New fossil ants of the subfamily Myrmeciinae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Germany

Two new fossil members of the subfamily Myrmeciinae are described: Archimyrmex wedmannae, sp. nov (Grube Messel, Germany, Middle Eocene) and Prionomyrmex wappleri, sp. nov. (Rott, Germany, Late Oligocene). Members of the genus Archimyrmex were known earlier from Eocene deposits of the United States and Argentina, and members of the genus Prionomyrmex were known from Late Eocene Baltic amber.     

The Dufour gland closing apparatus in Formica sanguinea Latreille (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

Summary A closing apparatus of the Dufour gland is described in the formicine ant Formica sanguinea Latreille 1798. Four sets of muscles are involved, two of which directly attach to the slit-like duct. The latter shows a considerable cuticular thickening of its intima at this level. Ultrastructural observations reveal that the muscles are attached to a cuticula by means of intracellular microtubules in the duct cells. These microtubules run parallel to the myofilaments. Together with the increased contact area for muscular attachments they are believed to ensure the accurate muscular mechanism assuring a well-controlled spraying activity of this gland. Opening of the duct is probably achieved by active muscular contractions, while its closure may be achieved by a passive return to the rest position of the thickened cuticular intima.Research assistant of the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research     

The internal phylogeny of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract. The higher phylogeny of the Formicidae was analysed using 68 characters and 19 taxa: the 14 currently recognized ant subfamilies plus 5 potentially critical infrasubfamilial taxa. The results justified the recognition of 3 additional subfamilies: Aenictogitoninae Ashmead (new status), Apomyrminae Dlussky & Fedoseeva (new status), and Leptanilloidinae Bolton (new subfamily). A second analysis on these better delimited 17 subfamilies resulted in 24 equally most parsimonious trees. All trees showed a basal division of extant Formicidae into two groups, the first containing (Myrmicinae, Pseudomyrmecinae, Nothomyrmeciinae, Myrmeciinae, Formicinae, Dolichoderinae, Aneuretinae) and the second the remaining subfamilies. Clades appearing within these groups included the Cerapachyinae plus 'army ants', the Nothomyrmeciinae plus Myrmeciinae, the 'formicoid' subfamilies (Aneuretinae + Dolichoderinae + Formicinae), and the Old World army ants (Aenictinae + Aenictogitoninae + Doryline), but relationships within the last two groups were not resolved, and the relative positions of the Apomyrminae, Leptanillinae and Ponerinae remained ambiguous. Moreover, a bootstrap analysis produced a consensus tree in which all branches were represented in proportions much lower than 95%. A reconstruction of the ground plan of the Formicidae indicated that the most specialized of all recent ants are the members of the subfamily Dorylinae and the least specialized ones are the monotypic Apomyrminae.     

Feinstruktur des Komplexauges der Roten Waldameise,Formica polyctena (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

Zusammenfassung Die Analyse der Feinstruktur des Komplexauges der Ameise Formica polyctena ergab, daß der dioptrische Apparat der insgesamt 750 Ommatidien aus einer lamellierten Cornealinse und einem euconen Kristallkegel besteht. Zwei Hauptpigmentzellen umgeben schalenförmig den Kristallkegel, 8 Nebenpigmentzellen schirmen das Ommatidium in seiner ganzen Länge von der Cornea bis zur Basalmembran ab. Jedes Ommatidium besteht in seinem distalen Teil aus 8 Retinulazellen, 2 gegenüberliegenden schmalen und je 3 gegenüberliegenden großen Sehzellen. Weiter proximal tritt eine 9. Retinulazelle hinzu. Die Mikrovillisäume der Sehzellen verschmelzen zu einem zentralen Rhabdom. Im distalen Teil sind die Mikrovilli in 3 Richtungen angeordnet. Es wird im besonderen die Orientierung der Mikrovilli zur Augenlängsachse und zur Ommatidien-Symmetrieachse untersucht. Auch die 9. Sehzelle bildet Mikrovilli. Das Rhabdom endet an 4 basalen Pigmentzellen.Auf den Mikrovillisaum folgt im Querschnitt des dunkel adaptierten Ommatidiums ein Kranz von großen intrazellulären Vakuolen. Die anschließende cytoplasmatische Zone der Retinulazellen enthält viele Pigmentgranula und Mitochondrien; multivesikuläre und multilamelläre Körper sowie Golgiapparate treten nur selten auf. Die funktionelle Bedeutung des Ommatidienaufbaues und die Verteilung der Organellen bei Dunkeladaptation werden diskutiert.

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The fine structure of the complex eye of the ant Formica polyctena (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Summary The fine structure of the compound eye of the ant Formica polyctena was investigated. The eye consists of a total of 750 ommatidia, each containing a dioptric apparatus of a lamellated cornea lens, a eucone-type crystalline cone, and 8 long pigment cells which surround the ommatidium for its total length, i.e. from the cornea to the basal membrane. Each ommatidium has in its distal portion 8 retinula cells—6 large plus 2 small ones. The retinula cells are arranged in such a way that 3 pairs of large cells, and the one pair of the small cells lie opposite each other. Further proximally, a 9th retinula cell is encountered. The fused, centrally located rhabdom is built up by the microvilli of all nine retinula cells. The rhabdom ends at 4 basal pigment cells. In dark adapted ommatidia, a ring of large intracellular vacuoles is to be seen immediately peripherally to the rhabdom. The outer, cytoplasmic zone of the retinula cells contains many pigment granules and mitochondria; multivesicular bodies, onion bodies and Golgi apparatus are of relatively rare occurrence. The functional significance of the ommatidial structure and the arrangement of the cell organelles in the dark adapted condition are discussed.

Für technische Hilfe danke ich Frau Langer und Frl. Müller, Herrn Prof. H. Markl für die Durchsicht des Manuskripts.     

Polygyny and Monoandry in the Ant Formica japonica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Queen number, mating frequency and nest kin-structure of the ant Formica japonica were studied in the field and the laboratory. Nest excavation in the study site, the east slope of Mt. Fuji, Gotenba, Japan, revealed that F. japonica is weakly polygynous all year round and the queen number increases after the nuptial flight season, suggesting the adoption of newly mated queens by established nests. Dissection and laboratory rearing demonstrated that nearly all queens in polygynous nests had mated and were fertile with mature oocytes in their ovaries. Multilocus DNA fingerprinting was used to examine kin relationships among ants found in the same nests. The fingerprint band patterns were apparently governed by a simple genetic rule and suggested monoandry (single mating per queen). The mean band sharing score of DNA fingerprints among full sisters was 0.90, and the mean value between queens and their daughters was 0.75. Comparison of DNA fingerprints of adult and pupal workers with pupal gynes suggested that multiple queens in a nest may contribute unequally to gyne (new queen) production.     

Nest-building in ants <Emphasis Type="Italic">Formica exsecta</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

Representatives of the subgenus Coptoformica build composite aboveground nests in much the same manner as red wood ants do. However, despite the superficial similarity, Coptoformica nests show a number of substantial differences that impact on the way in which ants use the nest. The aboveground part of a Formica (Coptoformica) exsecta nest consists of the temporary layer, the outer crust layer, the mound, and the intermediate layer. The material of all the layers includes soil and fragments of plants (picked up or excised), the relative proportion of the two components differing among the layers. The thick, soil-rich crust layer acts as armature and allows a variety of anthill shapes. The intermediate layer and the upper part of the mound harbor quite a few large chambers. Building material is often transferred from nest to nest. On the whole, F. exsecta nests are plastic and movable, which facilitates the activity of these ants in ecotone biotopes.     

Common names for Australian ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract Most insects do not have common names, and this is a significant barrier to public interest in them, and to their study by non-specialists. This holds for even highly familiar insect groups such as ants. Here, I propose common names for all major native Australian ant genera and species-groups, as well as for many of the most abundant and distinctive species. Sixty-two genera, 142 species-groups and 50 species are given names. The naming system closely follows taxonomic structure; typically a genus is given a general common name, under which species-group and species names are nested.     

Respiratory patterns in nurses of the red wood ant Formica polyctena (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Summary Cycles of discontinuous gas exchange (DGCs) and abdominal ventilatory movements were studied in nurses of red wood ant, Formica polyctena, using an electrolytic respirometer and an infra-red (IR) gas analyser or flow-through respirometry. Both respirometry systems were combined with an IR actographic device based on IR-emitting and IR-sensor diodes. After recovering from handling and apparatus stress, lasting 1–3 h, completely motionless intact ants displayed regular DGC. After decapitation the ants displayed DGC whose frequency was somewhat lower than that of the intact individuals (7.17 ± 0.79 mHz and 10.43 ± 01.12 mHz, respectively). In headless ants, there occurred continuous slow movements of legs. Bursts of carbon dioxide in the intact and in the headless ants always coincided with a bout of telescoping movements (contractions) of abdominal segments, which was interpreted as active ventilation. During interburst periods, the headless ants exhibited telescoping movements characterised by rapid protraction, lasting 0.07–0.09 s, followed by a slow retraction of segments, suggesting passive ventilation. The intact ants were very sensitive to the flowing air and tended to be continuously active during flow-through respirometry. The decapitated ants, on the contrary, were insensitive to the air current.Received 26 March 2003; revised 30 July 2003; accepted 6 August 2003.     

Some aspects of interrelations between ants (Hymenoptera,Formicidae) and polistine wasps (Hymenoptera,Vespidae)

Embodied, situated and enactive aspects of relationships of polistine wasps with ants are considered within the framework of the theory of autopoiesis. The idea of the embodied interaction implies specific nestbuilding and protective behavior in polistine wasps. The paper examines the adaptive role of applying ant repellent on the petiole and nest and the latitude gradient of such behavior in re-social wasp species. The situated interaction is considered in the environmental context: the mortality of Polistes gallicus (L.) colonies as a result of predatory attacks of ants Myrmica bergi Ruzsky is analyzed in the Lower Dnieper basin (Ukraine). The enactive interaction includes both spontaneous autonomous activity of its participants as a result of self-organization and specific features of the spatial structure of the prey’s population forming under the impact of the predator. The applicability of some “predator-prey” models is discussed.