Chemical Deception and Structural Adaptation in Microdon (Diptera, Syrphidae, Microdontinae), a Genus of Hoverflies Parasitic on Social Insects

Scarparo, Giulia; d’Ettorre, Patrizia; Giulio, Andrea Di

doi:10.1007/s10886-019-01121-0

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…To understand whether mimetic compounds are biosynthesised or acquired, parasites are usually experimentally isolated from the host colony for a certain time, so that they can reveal their own CHC profile [65][66][67]. In our experiment, we could not do so due to the paucity of sampled nests and the analysed individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Inquiline Ant Myrmica karavajevi Uses Both Chemical and Vibroacoustic Deception Mechanisms to Integrate into Its Host Colonies

Casacci

Ślipiński

Witek

2021

Biology

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Social parasitism represents a particular type of agonistic interaction in which a parasite exploits an entire society instead of a single organism. One fascinating form of social parasitism in ants is the “inquilinism”, in which a typically worker-less parasitic queen coexists with the resident queen in the host colony and produces sexual offspring. To bypass the recognition system of host colonies, inquilines have evolved a repertoire of deceiving strategies. We tested the level of integration of the inquiline Myrmica karavajevi within the host colonies of M. scabrinodis and we investigated the mechanisms of chemical and vibroacoustic deception used by the parasite. M. karavajevi is integrated into the ant colony to such an extent that, in rescue experiments, the parasite pupae were saved prior to the host’s brood. M. karavajevi gynes perfectly imitated the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of M. scabrinodis queens and the parasite vibroacoustic signals resembled those emitted by the host queens eliciting the same levels of attention in the host workers during playback experiments. Our results suggest that M. karavajevi has evolved ultimate deception strategies to reach the highest social status in the colony hierarchy, encouraging the use of a combined molecular and behavioural approach when studying host–parasite interactions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Inquiline Ant Myrmica karavajevi Uses Both Chemical and Vibroacoustic Deception Mechanisms to Integrate into Its Host Colonies

Casacci

Ślipiński

Witek

2021

Biology

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“…Most previous studies that were aimed at elucidating the mechanisms of chemical disguise verified the persistence of disguised CHC by isolating myrmecophile from its host (Akino et al, 1996; Scarparo et al, 2019; Vander Meer & Wojcik, 1982; von Beeren et al, 2011 & 2012). These studies revealed whether the CHC profile returns to its pre-disguise state when myrmecophiles are isolated from their hosts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The former method is utilized by organisms to acquire the CHC profile from the host directly, and the latter is utilized to biosynthesize host-like CHC. Some studies have experimentally verified the mechanism of chemical disguise in several myrmecophile species, such as spiders and crickets (Akino et al, 1996; Howard et al, 1990; Scarparo et al, 2019; von Beeren et al, 2011 & 2012; Vander Meer & Wojcik, 1982). The mechanism of chemical disguise was estimated in socially parasitic ants through ecological observations (Bauer et al, 2010; Lenoir et al, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular evidence of chemical disguise by the socially parasitic spiny ant Polyrhachis lamellidens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) when invading a host colony

Iwai

Mori

Tomita

et al. 2022

Preprint

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While most ant species establish a colony independently, some socially parasitic ants build the foundation of their colony by invading other ant (host) colonies and utilizing their labour forces. Many socially parasitic ants disguise their cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile, which is also known as nestmate discrimination pheromones, when invading the host colony. Since the strategy of chemical disguise is widespread in socially parasitic ants, elucidating the mechanism of chemical disguise will promote knowledge on the evolutionary history of social parasitism. However, detailed knowledge is still lacking, as the relevant information has only originated from circumstantial evidence, which was obtained from ecological observations. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of chemical disguise in a new queen of a temporary socially parasitic spiny ant (Polyrhachis lamellidens) by measuring its CHC profile, performing a tracing assay with labelled substances, and analysing gene expression levels. First, after rubbing behaviour was observed against the host workers, the CHC profile in P. lamellidens shifted to pronounced peaks that closely resembling that of the host workers. We also observed a reduction in aggressive behaviours by the host ant against P. lamellidens after rubbing behaviour was performed. In addition, P. lamellidens acquired artificially-applied labelling substances from host workers through their rubbing behaviours, while gene expression profiling showed the expression of CHC synthesis-related genes did not change during this behaviour. These results suggest that P. lamellidens directly obtains host CHCs through rubbing behaviour, and these host CHCs enables P. lamellidens to remain disguised during colony invasion.

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“…Howard et al (1990a,b) defined that organisms utilize the methods of "chemical camouflage" to acquire the CHC profile from the host directly, and "chemical mimicry" is utilized to biosynthesize host-like CHC. Some studies have experimentally verified the mechanism of chemical disguise in several myrmecophile species, such as spiders and crickets (Vander Meer and Wojcik, 1982;Howard et al, 1990b;Akino et al, 1996;von Beeren et al, 2011von Beeren et al, , 2012Scarparo et al, 2019). The mechanism of chemical disguise was estimated in socially parasitic ants through ecological observations (Lenoir et al, 1997;Bauer et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Evidence of Chemical Disguise by the Socially Parasitic Spiny Ant Polyrhachis lamellidens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) When Invading a Host Colony

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

While most ant species establish a colony independently, some socially parasitic ants build the foundation of their colony by invading other ant (host) colonies and utilizing their labor forces. Many socially parasitic ants disguise their cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile, which is also known as signature mixture for nestmate discrimination, when invading the host colony. Since the strategy of chemical disguise is widespread in socially parasitic ants, elucidating the mechanism of chemical disguise will promote knowledge on the evolutionary history of social parasitism. However, detailed knowledge is still lacking, as the relevant information has only originated from circumstantial evidence, which was obtained from ecological observations. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of chemical disguise in a new queen of a temporary socially parasitic spiny ant (Polyrhachis lamellidens) by measuring its CHC profile, performing a tracing assay with labeled substances, and analyzing gene expression levels. First, after rubbing behavior was observed against the host workers, the CHC profile in P. lamellidens shifted to pronounced peaks that closely resembling that of the host workers. We also observed a reduction in aggressive behaviors by the host ant against P. lamellidens after rubbing behavior was performed. In addition, P. lamellidens acquired artificially-applied labeling substances from host workers through their rubbing behaviors, while gene expression profiling showed the expression of CHC synthesis-related genes did not change during this behavior. These results suggest that P. lamellidens directly obtains host CHCs through rubbing behavior, and these host CHCs enables P. lamellidens to remain disguised during colony invasion.

show abstract

Chemical Deception and Structural Adaptation in Microdon (Diptera, Syrphidae, Microdontinae), a Genus of Hoverflies Parasitic on Social Insects

Cited by 10 publications

References 41 publications

The Inquiline Ant Myrmica karavajevi Uses Both Chemical and Vibroacoustic Deception Mechanisms to Integrate into Its Host Colonies

The Inquiline Ant Myrmica karavajevi Uses Both Chemical and Vibroacoustic Deception Mechanisms to Integrate into Its Host Colonies

Molecular evidence of chemical disguise by the socially parasitic spiny ant Polyrhachis lamellidens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) when invading a host colony

Molecular Evidence of Chemical Disguise by the Socially Parasitic Spiny Ant Polyrhachis lamellidens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) When Invading a Host Colony

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