Foe to frenemy: predacious ant nest beetles use multiple strategies to fully integrate into ant nests

Moore, Wendy; Scarparo, Giulia; Giulio, Andrea Di

doi:10.1016/j.cois.2022.100921

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…There is little chance to rapidly assemble enough material for a meaningful project, but the morphology-based alpha-taxonomy should prepare a framework for further studies. Paussus is a fascinating group of myrmecophilous beetles [3,5,8,20,34], and their diversity surely deserves our attention.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The charismatic and ecologically interesting ant nest beetle genus Paussus Linnaeus, 1775 represents a highly diverse clade of the tribe Paussini (Carabidae: Paussinae), at present, with over 380 spp. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. The phenotypic distinctiveness prompted the earlier taxonomists to give these modified ground beetles a high rank [9,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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New Species of Paussus, Subgenus Scaphipaussus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae), from Southeast Asia Reveal Ambiguities in Species Group Limits and High Species Diversity in the Oriental Region

Bednařík,

Bocak

2023

Insects

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Paussus, commonly known as ant nest beetles, is the most diverse genus of Paussinae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) with a very complex taxonomic history. Biodiversity research in Southeast and South Asia yields new species that can contribute to a better understanding of the morphological disparity and species-group or subgenus delimitation. Here, we describe nine new species from Southeast Asia and China: Paussus (Scaphipaussus) fencli sp. nov. (China), P. (S.) mawdsleyi sp. nov. (Borneo), P. (S.) bakeri sp. nov. (Philippines), P. (S.) jendeki sp. nov. (Laos), P. (S.) saueri sp. nov. (India), P. (S.) annamensis sp. nov. (Vietnam), P. (S.) phoupanensis sp. nov. (Laos, Vietnam), P. (S.) bilyi sp. nov. (Thailand), and P. (S.) haucki sp. nov. (Thailand). We also bring new data on P. (S.) corporaali Reichensperger, 1927 (Java) and P. (S.) madurensis Wasmann, 1913 (India). Besides formal descriptions, we provide photographs of the habitus in the dorsal and dorsolateral view, antennal club, head crest, and male genitalia if the male is available. Based on the comparison of new and earlier described species, we show that the antennae are highly diverse within the Scaphipaussus. Considering other characters, some species are placed in Scaphipaussus, but they differ from putative relatives in the antennal morphology. The presence of the frontal protuberances and crests is a more reliable character. Additional species show that Scaphipaussus is most diverse in southeastern Asia, especially in Indo-Burma. Concerning its supposed late Miocene origin, the group underwent rapid radiation. The species diversity of Scaphipaussus almost doubled in the last decade, and it is highly probable that further species will be described in the future.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Species of Paussus, Subgenus Scaphipaussus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae), from Southeast Asia Reveal Ambiguities in Species Group Limits and High Species Diversity in the Oriental Region

Bednařík,

Bocak

2023

Insects

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“…Myrmecophiles therefore provide a paradigm for unravelling the mechanisms underlying obligate, symbiotic dependencies on specific host organisms. Evidence indicates that myrmecophiles can be strongly attracted to host ants, performing behaviors such as ant grooming 60,68,[73][74][75][76][77][78][79] , phoretic attachment to ant bodies 73,[80][81][82][83] , mouth-to-mouth feeding (trophallaxis) 68,[84][85][86][87][88][89] and navigating ant foraging trails [90][91][92][93] . To date, however, knowledge of the sensory cues that myrmecophiles use to find, recognize and interact with ants is scarce.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Enforced specificity of an animal symbiosis

Wagner,

Wong,

Millar

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Insect diversification has been catalyzed by widespread specialization on novel hosts - a process underlying exceptional radiations of phytophagous beetles, lepidopterans, parasitoid wasps, and inordinate lineages of symbionts, predators and other trophic specialists. The strict fidelity of many such interspecies associations is posited to hinge on sensory tuning to host-derived cues, a model supported by studies of neural function in host-specific model species. Here, we investigated the sensory basis of symbiotic interactions between a myrmecophile rove beetle and its single, natural host ant species. We show that host cues trigger analogous behaviors in both ant and symbiont. Cuticular hydrocarbons - the ant's nestmate recognition pheromones - elicit partner recognition by the beetle and execution of ant grooming behavior, integrating the beetle into the colony via chemical mimicry. The beetle also follows host trail pheromones, permitting inter-colony dispersal. Remarkably, the rove beetle also performs its symbiotic behaviors with ant species separated by ~95 million years, and shows minimal preference for its natural host over non-host ants. Experimentally validated agent-based modeling supports a scenario in which specificity is enforced by physiological constraints on symbiont dispersal, and negative fitness interactions with alternative hosts, rather than via sensory tuning. Enforced specificity may be a pervasive mechanism of host range restriction of specialists embedded within host niches. Chance realization of latent compatibilities with alternative hosts may facilitate host switching, enabling deep-time persistence of obligately symbiotic lineages.

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Broad host use and frequent polyandry in the facultative dulotic species Formica aserva (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Scarparo,

West,

Brelsford

et al. 2024

Annals of the Entomological Society of America

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The study of social parasitism faces numerous challenges arising from the intricate and intranidal host–parasite interactions and the rarity of parasites compared to their free-living counterparts. As a result, our understanding of the ecology and evolution of most social parasites remains limited. Using whole-genome and reduced-representation sequence data, we conducted a study to fill knowledge gaps on host use, colony social structure, and population genetics of the facultative dulotic ant Formica aserva Forel. Our study reveals the remarkable ability of F. aserva to exploit at least 20 different host species across its wide geographic distribution. In some cases, one social parasite colony exploits multiple hosts simultaneously, suggesting a high degree of generalization even at a local spatial scale. Approximately 80% of the colonies were monogyne (with a single queen), with many exhibiting higher rates of polyandry compared to most Formica ants. Although we identified a supergene on chromosome 3, its association with colony structure remains uncertain due to the rarity of polygyny in our sample. Population genetic analyses reveal substantial geographic population structure, with the greatest divergence between California populations and those from the rest of the range. Mitochondrial population structure differs from structure inferred from the nuclear genome on a broad geographic scale, suggesting a possible role of adaptive introgression or genetic drift. This study provides valuable insights into the ecology and evolution of F. aserva, underscoring the need for further research to decipher the complexities of host interactions and the genetic mechanisms that regulate social structure.

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Foe to frenemy: predacious ant nest beetles use multiple strategies to fully integrate into ant nests

Cited by 3 publications

References 27 publications

New Species of Paussus, Subgenus Scaphipaussus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae), from Southeast Asia Reveal Ambiguities in Species Group Limits and High Species Diversity in the Oriental Region

New Species of Paussus, Subgenus Scaphipaussus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae), from Southeast Asia Reveal Ambiguities in Species Group Limits and High Species Diversity in the Oriental Region

Enforced specificity of an animal symbiosis

Broad host use and frequent polyandry in the facultative dulotic species Formica aserva (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

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