Conspecifics of a heterotrophic heteronomous species of Strepsiptera (Insecta) are matched by molecular characterization

Abstract

The family Myrmecolacidae (Strepsiptera) exhibit the unusual phenomenon of sexually dimorphic host relationships known as heterotrophic heteronomy, whereby males parasitize ants and females parasitize grasshoppers, crickets and mantids. It has therefore been impossible phenotypically to match male Myrmecolacidae to their conspecific females: the male and female of only one species have so far been unequivocally matched, and this was by molecular characterization. Here we report another match of a male and its conspecific female: by comparison of the CO1 and 18S genes of male Myrmecolax incautus Oliveira and Kogan, which parasitizes a ponerine ant from French Guyana, and a female strepsipteran, which parasitizes a mantid from Brazil. The male M. incautus is redescribed, and the first descriptions of the neotenic female, the male cephalotheca and the first instar larva are given. We also report for the first time dimorphic hosts of the male and the female M. incautus, and describe for the first time, the behaviour of stylopized ants.Correspondence: J. Kathirithamby,

Current progress in DNA barcoding and future implications for entomology

“…2007; Johnson et al . 2009; Gattolliat & Monaghan 2010; Hayashi & Sota 2010; Kathirithamby et al . 2010; Murría et al .…”

“…In addition to the features of typical non‐barcode molecular markers, the advantages of DNA barcoding include primer universality, the accumulation of information on a wide range of taxonomic groups, and its association with taxonomy. These advantages may aid the study of ecologically interesting insect phenomena, such as host plant alternation among aphids, extreme sexual dimorphism and heterotrophic heteronomy of Strepsiptera, as Kathirithamby et al . (2010) investigated using non‐barcode molecular markers.…”

“…Identifications using molecular data can help elucidate the relationships of morphologically variable individuals of the same species, such as individuals in different developmental stages, castes in social animals and sexually dimorphic individuals Johnson et al 2009). Insects, especially those of holometabolous orders, are extremely variable, and numerous attempts have been made to associate their life stages using molecular markers Ahrens et al 2007;Sutou et al 2007;Johnson et al 2009;Gattolliat & Monaghan 2010;Hayashi & Sota 2010;Kathirithamby et al 2010;Murría et al 2010;Pauls et al 2010). In addition to the features of typical non-barcode molecular markers, the advantages of DNA barcoding include primer universality, the accumulation of information on a wide range of taxonomic groups, and its association with taxonomy.…”

Genetic underpinnings of host manipulation byOphiocordycepsas revealed by comparative transcriptomics

“…Hyperactivity and ELA have also been reported in caterpillars infected by baculoviruses, and are a reoccurring theme in manipulative parasitisms (KAMITA & al. 2005, KATHIRITHAMBY & al. 2010, , DE BEKKER & al.…”

Pathogens, parasites, and parasitoids of ants: a synthesis of parasite biodiversity and epidemiological traits

“…When the males are ready to emerge, they leave the host via the puparium, leaving a hole in the host that often becomes colonized by fungi (Kathirithamby, 2008). Ants parasitized by strepsipterans have been observed behaving unusually (Ogloblin, 1939;Hughes, Moya-Raygoza, & Kathirithamby, 2003;Kathirithamby et al, 2010).…”