The interaction between Cistaceae and a highly specific seed-harvester ant in a Mediterranean scrubland

We studied the interaction between the ant Goniomma kugleri and Cistaceae in a Cistus ladanifer -dominated scrubland, in southwestern Spain. We monitored seed harvesting, and studied ant preferences among Cistaceae seeds and their capture efficiencies for preferred seeds. For the stand of C. ladanifer , we estimated seed losses due to the ants. Harvesting was restricted to two seasons: mid-autumn to late winter, and late spring. Ant diet relied on Cistaceae seeds: during autumn and winter 90% of seeds returned to nests were of C. ladanifer , and the remaining fraction also comprised Cistaceae seeds. At this time, the ants harvested seeds directly from the plants. In late spring, the ant diet consisted of Tuberaria guttata s.l. seeds. Goniomma kugleri selectively collected Cistaceae seeds. For preferred species, seed removal rates at the colony level and seed capture times invested by individual workers were correlated with seed size. Because of shorter capture time and higher success frequency, capture efficiency in terms of number of seeds captured per unit time was higher for small-seeded species. Although each ant colony collected large numbers (up to 10⁵) of C. ladanifer seeds over the autumn–winter season, the impact of ant removal on the annual seed output was moderate, at around 20%. It is likely that, in C. ladanifer , the staggered seed release period, and the pulsed exposure of seed clumps in capsules through progressive locule dehiscence, effectively minimise seed losses to the ants.     

Host-Specific Myrmecophily and Myrmecophagy in the Tropical Coccinellid Diomus thoracicus in French Guiana

A variety of arthropods, particularly insects, have developed myrmecophilous interactions with ants to gain access to resources and/or for protection. Among these myrmecophiles, only a few examples have been documented in the Coccinellidae, most of them involving species able to feed on ant-tended Hemiptera. We report here a new case of obligate myrmecophily in the coccinellid Diomus thoracicus. Larvae are invariably and exclusively found in the nests of the ant Wasmannia auropunctata and seem to rely on ant brood as their only food source. Not only do ant workers show no aggressiveness toward the D. thoracicus larvae in their behavioral interactions at the colonial level, but also at the species level; while coccinellid adults are always attacked. The integration of the larvae inside of the ant nests is based on their chemical mimicry of the host's cuticular cues. Therefore, given the presence of the D. thoracicus larvae inside of the ant's nest, their predation on Wasmannia brood and their chemical mimicry, this species can be considered a specific parasite of W. auropunctata. Overall, this new case of myrmecophily not only specifically involves a highly invasive ant species, but also provides insights into the evolution of myrmecophily and myrmecophagy in coccinellids.     

Molecular phylogeny of the ant tribe Myrmicini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The interrelationships within ant subfamilies remain elusive, despite the recent establishment of the phylogeny of the major ant lineages. The tribe Myrmicini belongs to the subfamily Myrmicinae, and groups morphologically unspecialized genera. Previous research has struggled with defining Myrmicini, leading to considerable taxonomic instability. Earlier molecular phylogenetic studies have suggested the nonmonophyly of Myrmicini, but were based on limited taxon sampling. We investigated the composition of Myrmicini with phylogenetic analyses of an enlarged set of taxa, using DNA sequences of eight gene fragments taken from 37 representatives of six of the seven genera (Eutetramorium, Huberia, Hylomyrma, Manica, Myrmica, and Pogonomyrmex), and eight outgroups. Our results demonstrate the invalidity of Myrmicini as currently defined. We recovered sister‐group relationships between the genera Myrmica and Manica, and between Pogonomyrmex and Hylomyrma. This study illustrates that to understand the phylogeny of over 6000 myrmicine species, comprehensive taxon sampling and DNA sequencing are an absolute requisite. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 160 , 482–495.     

Rapid anti-pathogen response in ant societies relies on high genetic diversity

Social organisms are constantly exposed to infectious agents via physical contact with conspecifics. While previous work has shown that disease susceptibility at the individual and group level is influenced by genetic diversity within and between group members, it remains poorly understood how group-level resistance to pathogens relates directly to individual physiology, defence behaviour and social interactions. We investigated the effects of high versus low genetic diversity on both the individual and collective disease defences in the ant Cardiocondyla obscurior. We compared the antiseptic behaviours (grooming and hygienic behaviour) of workers from genetically homogeneous and diverse colonies after exposure of their brood to the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. While workers from diverse colonies performed intensive allogrooming and quickly removed larvae covered with live fungal spores from the nest, workers from homogeneous colonies only removed sick larvae late after infection. This difference was not caused by a reduced repertoire of antiseptic behaviours or a generally decreased brood care activity in ants from homogeneous colonies. Our data instead suggest that reduced genetic diversity compromises the ability of Cardiocondyla colonies to quickly detect or react to the presence of pathogenic fungal spores before an infection is established, thereby affecting the dynamics of social immunity in the colony.     

Influence of native ants on arthropod communities in a vineyard

• 1 Ants can have a range of effects on arthropods in crops, including suppressing herbivores such as caterpillars. However, ants can also increase hemipteran densities while reducing natural enemy numbers. In vineyard ecosystem, the effects of native ants and their interactions with other arthropods are poorly understood.
• 2 An ant‐exclusion experiment was designed to test the impact of native ants on both canopy and ground arthropods concurrently. The potential influence of ants on predation and parasitism of light brown apple moth (LBAM) eggs, a grape pest, was also examined. Adult grapevine scale insects and earwigs under bark were counted after a season of ant‐exclusion.
• 3 Among 23 ground ant species collected, six were found to forage in the canopy, with two Iridomyrmex species being the most commonly encountered.
• 4 There was no difference in the abundance of most arthropod orders and feeding groups between ant‐excluded and control vines, although ground spiders were more abundant under ant‐excluded vines, despite increased ground ant foraging pressure. LBAM egg parasitism and predation were low and probably affected by weather and other arthropods. Ant exclusion did not reduce survival of scale insects, although the distribution and abundance of scale insects were negatively associated with earwigs.
• 5 In conclusion, native ants did not consistently suppress arthropod assemblages, including natural enemies, and they did not promote the survival of scale insects. Interactions among native ant species within a vineyard might minimize their effects on other arthropods, although this needs further study.

     

Nest composition and worker relatedness in three slave-making ants of the genus Rossomyrmex Arnoldi and their Proformica Ruzsky hosts (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

Abstract In this paper, we analyze and compare nest composition and architecture as well as worker relatedness in three related species of slave-making ants: Rossomyrmex anatolicus, R. minuchae, and R. quandratinodum. Colony structure within nests is an important trait in ants, especially in the case of mixed societies, when host and parasite coexist in the same nest. Data for their respective free-living hosts, Proformica korbi, P. longiseta and P. sp., are also provided. For our study, we integrated a meticulous excavation procedure with a genetic method. We conclude that the average number of parasites, as well as of slaves, is species-specific, whereas nest depth depends on the nest architecture of the host. The genus Rossomyrmex seems to be monogynous and monandrous, whereas Proformica shows differences in the number of queens and mating frequency. R. quandratinodum shows different traits in nest composition (host/parasite ratio: P/R) and architecture. The difference in traits may account for some differences in parasitism: raid process or avoidance of parasitism.     

The Influence of Abiotic Factors and Temporal Variation on Local Invasion Patterns of the Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile)

The Argentine ant is a common pest of mediterranean-type ecosystems worldwide, causing widespread extirpation of many native ant species. This study examines spatial and temporal patterns of invasion at a local scale, investigates the effects of this invader on native ant communities and assesses causal mechanisms for these spatial, temporal and numerical patterns, particularly in relation to local climate. Argentine ant workers were more active in the drier months of summer and fall, and abundance was correlated with cumulative precipitation the previous winter. Argentine ant worker abundance greatly increased in conjunction with EI Niño events. No similar relationship existed for native ants. This invasive ant affected native ant abundances differently by species: some species were able to tolerate its presence temporarily. Overall, this study provides a framework of factors to consider when devising control strategies for the invasive Argentine ant.     

Behavioral ecology of odometric memories in desert ants: acquisition, retention, and integration

Assuming that the acquisition and retention of memories havecosts, properties of memories should fit the functional requirementsfor the system of memory. Based on a functional analysis ofwhat path integration is meant to do, we predicted that odometricmemories in desert ants should show (1) little improvement withrepeated training: performance should be as good after one trainingtrial as after six training trials, (2) decay of memory after24 h, and (3) performance based solely on the most recent outboundtrip, with no integration over multiple memories. Desert ants(Cataglyphis fortis) traveled in narrow straight plastic channelsto forage for cookie crumbs in a feeder at 6- or 12-m distance.Each ant was tested once by being taken from the feeder andreleased 2 m from the end of a 32-m channel to run home. Thedistance at which the ant first turned back (first turn) constitutedthe data. In acquisition, groups trained one or six times beforebeing tested had unsystematic scatter that did not differ significantly.In retention, ants tested after a 24-h delay showed larger unsystematicscatter than control animals tested after no delay. In integration,ants were trained five times at 6 or 12 m and then tested at12 or 6 m, respectively. No evidence of integration of multipleodometric memories was found. The results show that the propertiesof odometric memories are indeed tailored to what the memorysystem is used for.     

Seasonal polydomy in a polygynous supercolony of the odorous house ant,Tapinoma sessile

Abstract 1. The odorous house ant, Tapinoma sessile, is a native ant species common throughout North America. In its natural habitat, T. sessile is a low‐key species that consists of small colonies. In invaded urban areas, T. sessile exhibits extreme polygyny and polydomy and becomes a dominant invasive pest. 2. The current study examined: (i) the density, persistence, and the spatial distribution of nests in a large supercolony of T. sessile, (ii) trail abundance and overall colony connectivity as facilitated by the network of trails, (iii) the abundance and the spatial distribution of competing ant species, and (iv) the effect of environmental factors on the number and distribution of T. sessile nests. 3. A distinct pattern of seasonal polydomy was observed, whereby the colony undergoes an annual fission‐fusion cycle. The colony occupies one or a few nests during the winter, experiences rapid exponential growth in the spring to colonize available nesting sites, reaches maximum nest density in the summer, and again coalesces in the winter, returning to the same winter location year after year. The trails show spatio‐temporal variation as well, depending on the location of nesting and foraging sites. Furthermore, nest movements may be driven by soil microclimate and proximity to man‐made structures. 4. In total, 119 ant nests were discovered in a 3.15 ha plot, 90 (76%) of which belonged to T. sessile. Tapinoma sessile exhibited strong colony connectivity as 78/90 (87%) of nests were connected to at least one other nest by a trail. Mean persistence time for T. sessile nests was 133 ± 5 days. 5. Results indicate that T. sessile is a highly adaptable native ant species that exhibits a high degree of flexibility in its colony social structure. A high degree of polygyny and polydomy may contribute to its ecological dominance and pest status in urban environments.     

Age polyethism in the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus Forel, 1911 (Hym., Formicidae)

Abstract  This study describes and quantifies the behavioural acts of two laboratory colonies of Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus by investigating worker age polyethism. Twenty-nine behavioural acts were recorded during the 19-week observation period. Young individuals performed tasks inside the nest related to brood care and care for the fungus garden, whereas older individuals performed activities outside the nest such as foraging and activities in the waste chamber. The average longevity (±SD) was 108.21 ± 3.30, 109.15 ± 1.92 and 122.71 ± 1.55 days for large, medium and small workers, respectively. The small-sized workers presented a higher probability of reaching older age than large- and medium-sized workers. This study describes task switching according to age polyethism and the relationship of physical and temporal subcastes.