Hyenism in Ants: Non-Target Ants Profit From Polyergus rufescens Raids (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The presence of slavemaker ants alters the structure of the ant community. The influence of slavemakers on non-host ants is believed to be indirect, via changing competitive interactions among the ants. According to my observation Myrmica sabuleti (and probably also Lasius alienus) profited from a Polyergus rufescens raid against a Formica fusca nest. Both non-host species collected F. fusca corpses. These carcasses were used as food in the case of M. sabuleti at least. M. sabuleti profited substantially from the Polyergus raid because the dry biomass weight of the collected F. fusca carcasses was approximately half of the dry biomass weight of all M. sabuleti workers.

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Behavioural and socially parasitic relations between Polyergus rufescens (Latr.) and Formica polyctena Först. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Entomologica Fennica ◽

10.33338/ef.84378 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 54-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Wojciech Czechowski

Keyword(s):

Natural Conditions ◽

Formica Polyctena ◽

Chemical Camouflage ◽

Białowieża Forest ◽

Ne Poland ◽

Formica Fusca ◽

Wood Ants ◽

Polyergus Rufescens ◽

Mutual Relations ◽

Competition Hierarchy

Polyergus rufescens (Latr.), an obligate slave-maker, and Formica polyctena Först., an aggressive, territorial wood ant species, rarely co-occur in the field, and there are almost no data on their mutual relations under natural conditions. These interactions were studied in the Bialowieza Forest (NE Poland), based on two P. rufescens colonies (with Formica fusca L. slaves) nesting within the territories of F. polyctena. The wood ants routinely searched the immediate vicinity of P. rufescens nests, whereas P. rufescens ants raided F. fusca colonies very close to F. polyctena nests or their columns passed right next to them, they eventually crossed wood ants’ foraging and removal routes, and even directly attacked F. polyctena colonies and robbed their brood. Interspeciflc relations in these particular situations are described and discussed in the contexts of supposed chemical camouflage/mimicry of P. rufescens and interspecific competition hierarchy in ants.

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Odour similarities between the slave-keeping ants Formica sanguinea and Polyergus rufescens and their slaves Formica fusca and Formica rufibarbis

Journal of Insect Physiology ◽

10.1016/0022-1910(68)90009-7 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 14 (7) ◽

pp. 995-1011 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

Gunnar Bergström ◽

Jan Löfqvist

Keyword(s):

Formica Fusca ◽

Polyergus Rufescens ◽

Formica Sanguinea

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The possible role of ant larvae in the defence against social parasites

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2018.2867 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 286 (1898) ◽

pp. 20182867 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Unni Pulliainen ◽

Heikki Helanterä ◽

Liselotte Sundström ◽

Eva Schultner

Keyword(s):

Host Species ◽

Social Parasitism ◽

Social Parasite ◽

Social Parasites ◽

Nest Mate ◽

Formica Fusca ◽

Before And After ◽

Key Factor ◽

Host Worker ◽

Cuticular Profiles

Temporary social parasite ant queens initiate new colonies by entering colonies of host species, where they begin laying eggs. As the resident queen can be killed during this process, host colonies may lose their entire future reproductive output. Selection thus favours the evolution of defence mechanisms, before and after parasite intrusion. Most studies on social parasites focus on host worker discrimination of parasite queens and their offspring. However, ant larvae can also influence brood composition by consuming eggs. This raises the question whether host larvae can aid in preventing colony takeover by consuming eggs laid by parasite queens. To test whether larvae could play a role in anti-parasite defence, we compared the rates at which larvae of a common host species, Formica fusca , consumed eggs laid by social parasite, non-parasite, nest-mate, or conspecific non-nest-mate queens. Larvae consumed social parasite eggs more than eggs laid by a heterospecific non-parasite queen, irrespective of the chemical distance between the egg cuticular profiles. Also, larvae consumed eggs laid by conspecific non-nest-mate queens more than those laid by nest-mate queens. Our study suggests that larvae may act as players in colony defence against social parasitism, and that social parasitism is a key factor shaping discrimination behaviour in ants.

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Patterns of trematode and nematode lungworm infections in northern leopard frogs and wood frogs from Ontario, Canada

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x09243495 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 83 (4) ◽

pp. 339-343 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

O.K. Dare ◽

M.R. Forbes

Keyword(s):

Host Species ◽

Spatial Segregation ◽

Negative Association ◽

Competitive Interactions ◽

Future Research ◽

Wood Frogs ◽

Leopard Frogs ◽

Strong Negative Association ◽

Northern Leopard Frogs ◽

Dual Infections

AbstractIn this study we examined trematode and nematode lung helminths commonly found in two species of host ranid frogs for competitive interactions. We examined 147 adult (breeding and non-breeding) and juvenile northern leopard frogs, and 84 breeding male wood frogs in Bishops Mills, Ontario for Haematoloechus spp. (Trematoda) and Rhabdias sp. (Nematoda) infections. A strong negative association between phyla of helminth was observed in breeding and juvenile northern leopard frogs, and also in breeding wood frogs, but not in non-breeding adult northern leopard frogs. Few hosts carried both types of worm concurrently. Thirteen northern leopard frogs carried dual infections, while 77 carried only one phylum of helminth. Twenty-seven wood frogs carried dual infections, while 54 carried only one phylum of helminth. We also observed spatial segregation of the two phyla in host lungs. Our study informs future research on the dynamics of interactions among lung helminths in these two host species.

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Effect of tropical forest disturbance on the competitive interactions within a diverse ant community

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-018-23272-y ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ross E. J. Gray ◽

Robert M. Ewers ◽

Michael J. W. Boyle ◽

Arthur Y. C. Chung ◽

Richard J. Gill

Keyword(s):

Tropical Forest ◽

Forest Disturbance ◽

Competitive Interactions ◽

Ant Community

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STUDY ON DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) IN URBAN AND PERIURBAN AREAS OF AURANGABAD CITY, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

FLORA AND FAUNA ◽

10.33451/florafauna.v23i2pp404-410 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

Author(s):

S. D. CHATE ◽

R. J. CHAVAN

Keyword(s):

Rainy Season ◽

Winter Season ◽

Seasonal Abundance ◽

Urban Region ◽

Ant Community ◽

Community Variation

The present study deals with the ant community variation in and around Aurangabad city. During the study total 16 species of ants belonging to twelve genera and four subfamilies were reported in eight habitat from urban and periurban regions. Abundance of ants was more in peri-urban region as compared to urban region. Subfamily myrmicinae was more dominant as compared to other subfamilies. Seasonal abundance of ants was seen to be more in winter season and less in rainy season.

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