Chemical Mimicry in an Obligate Predator of Carpenter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Howard, Ralph W.; Akre, Roger D.; Garnett, William

doi:10.1093/aesa/83.3.607

Cited by 75 publications

(36 citation statements)

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“…A similar discrete strategy was observed in workers of a ponerine ant, Ectatomma ruidum, in which the reduction of cuticular compounds facilitated entry by thieves into another colony (Jeral et al, 1997). The B. sylvestris inquilines then acquired or produced the necessary odorants to facilitate their being acceptance into a host nest (Alford, 1975;Howard et al, 1990). This is a strategy used by newly mated queens of the ant Polyergus rufescens prior to their usurping a Formica nest (D'Ettore and Errard, 1998).…”

Section: Strategies Used By the Inquiline B Sylvestrismentioning

confidence: 75%

Bumblebee inquilinism in Bombus�(Fernaldaepsithyrus) sylvestris (Hymenoptera, Apidae): behavioural and chemical analyses of host-parasite interactions

et al. 2005

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-The bumblebee Bombus sylvestris is an obligate social inquiline of B. pratorum and nestinvading females are known to integrate themselves into host colonies, usually without any aggression. We investigated whether cuticular compounds could be involved in discrimination processes in common bumblebees, and whether they play a role in the social integration of inquilines in host nests. We tested nestmate recognition in B. terrestris workers, and analysed cuticular chemical profiles of hairs taken from allocolonial individuals. Bumblebees belonging to the same colony shared a common odour. Then, we investigated how B. sylvestris females integrated into colonies of natural and non-natural hosts, B. pratorum and B. terrestris, respectively. Inquiline females apparently succeeded in entering a host colony by expressing non-aggressive behaviours and had no chemical signature; subsequently, acquisition of a chemical signature similar to the host colony might facilitate their integration into the host nest.Bombus sylvestris / inquilinism / discrimination process / chemical signature / non-aggressive strategy

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Section: Strategies Used By the Inquiline B Sylvestrismentioning

confidence: 75%

Bumblebee inquilinism in Bombus�(Fernaldaepsithyrus) sylvestris (Hymenoptera, Apidae): behavioural and chemical analyses of host-parasite interactions

et al. 2005

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“…There are a few reports of Microdontinae larvae feeding on aphids and coccids attended by ants [11][12][13], but these could so far not be confirmed. Little is known about the degree of taxonomic specialization exhibited by Microdontinae with respect to their host ants, but available evidence suggests that Microdon species are highly specialized, although this may differ between species [14][15][16][17]. It seems probable that a certain degree of host specialization is required for predators living in ants nests, because the predators need to make sure that they are not recognized by the ants as hostile intruders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review and Phylogenetic Evaluation of Associations between Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) and Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Reemer

2013

Psyche: A Journal of Entomology

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The immature stages of hoverflies of the subfamily Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) develop in ant nests, as predators of the ant brood. The present paper reviews published and unpublished records of associations of Microdontinae with ants, in order to discuss the following questions.(1) Are all Microdontinae associated with ants? (2) Are Microdontinae associated with all ants? (3) Are particular clades of Microdontinae associated with particular clades of ants? (4) Are Microdontinae associated with other insects? A total number of 109 associations between the groups are evaluated, relating to 43 species of Microdontinae belonging to 14 genera, and to at least 69 species of ants belonging to 24 genera and five subfamilies. The taxa of Microdontinae found in association with ants occur scattered throughout their phylogenetic tree. One of the supposedly most basal taxa (Mixogaster) is associated with ants, suggesting that associations with ants evolved early in the history of the subfamily and have remained a predominant feature of their lifestyle. Among ants, associations with Microdontinae are known from subfamilies Ponerinae, Dolichoderinae, Formicinae, Myrmicinae, and Pseudomyrmecinae. These subfamilies comprise more than 95% of all ant species. Interestingly, no associations are known with "dorylomorph" ants (army ants and relatives).

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“…HÎlldobler & Wilson (1990) suggest that all social parasites penetrate ant societies by using mechanical and chemical cues to break their hosts' communication and recognition codes. However, evidence of genuine chemical mimicry (sensu Howard et al 1990a) involving the biosynthesis of ant recognition pheromonesöas opposed to the passive adsorption of colony odours (Vander Meer & Wojcik 1982;Vander Meer et al 1989;Akino et al 1996) or the secretion of agonistic semiochemicalsöhas been elusive. It has been demonstrated through behavioural studies in Atemeles beetles and in a few other species (HÎlldobler & Wilson 1990), but perhaps only one (unpublished) description exists of the chemistry of a biosynthesized mimetic pseudopheromone that is apparently uncontaminated by its host (referred to by Henning 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical mimicry and host specificity in the butterfly Maculinea rebeli, a social parasite of Myrmica ant colonies

Akino

Knapp

Thomas³

et al. 1999

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

239

247

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Although it has always been assumed that chemical mimicry and camou£age play a major role in the penetration of ant societies by social parasites, this paper provides the ¢rst direct evidence for such a mechanism between the larvae of the parasitic butter£y Maculinea rebeli and its ant host Myrmica schencki. In the wild, freshly moulted fourth-instar caterpillars, which have no previous contact with ants, appear to be recognized as ant larvae by foraging Myrmica workers, which return them to their nest brood chambers. Three hypotheses concerning the mechanism controlling this behaviour were tested: (i) the caterpillars produce surface chemicals that allow them to be treated as ant larvae; (ii) mimetic compounds would include hydrocarbons similar to those employed by Myrmica to recognize conspeci¢cs and brood; and (iii) the caterpillars' secretions would more closely mimic the pro¢le of their main host in the wild, M. schencki, than that of other species of Myrmica. Results of behavioural bioassays and chemical analyses con¢rmed all three hypotheses, and explained the high degree of host speci¢city found in this type of highly specialized myrmecophile. Furthermore, although caterpillars biosynthesized many of the recognition pheromones of their host species (chemical mimicry), they later acquired additional hydrocarbons within the ant nest (chemical camou£age), making them near-perfect mimics of their individual host colony's odour.

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Chemical Mimicry in an Obligate Predator of Carpenter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Cited by 75 publications

References 0 publications

Bumblebee inquilinism in Bombus�(Fernaldaepsithyrus) sylvestris (Hymenoptera, Apidae): behavioural and chemical analyses of host-parasite interactions

Bumblebee inquilinism in Bombus�(Fernaldaepsithyrus) sylvestris (Hymenoptera, Apidae): behavioural and chemical analyses of host-parasite interactions

Review and Phylogenetic Evaluation of Associations between Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) and Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Chemical mimicry and host specificity in the butterfly Maculinea rebeli, a social parasite of Myrmica ant colonies

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