Specialized predation on Wasmannia auropunctata by the army ant species Neivamyrmex compressinodis

Abstract:  We report here the first case of an efficient and specialized predator of the invasive ant species Wasmannia auropunctata : the army ant Neivamyrmex compressinodis . Our results are based on a study that we conducted in French Guiana, a part of the Wasmannia's native range. When N . compressinodis workers attacked W . auropunctata nests, the assaulted workers panicked and left the nests, some of them carrying brood. Nevertheless, during its raids on W . auropunctata , N . compressinodis was able to capture nearly all of the W . auropunctata brood and winged sexuals, whereas none of the attacks by N . compressinodis on other sympatric ant species were successful. Laboratory experiments revealed that the workers of eight compared sympatric species attacked the N . compressinodis individuals and that N . compressinodis workers accepted W . auropunctata brood as well as that of most of the tested species, showing that its specificity probably depends on the reaction of the W . auropunctata workers.