scholarly journals A checklist of the non-leaf-cutting fungus-growing ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Colombia, with new biogeographic records

Check List ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 1205-1227
Author(s):  
Daniela Mera-Rodríguez ◽  
Francisco Serna ◽  
Jeffrey Sosa-Calvo ◽  
John Lattke ◽  
Christian Rabeling
Keyword(s):  
New Records ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Fungus Growing Ants

The non-leaf-cutting fungus-growing ants deposited in two entomological collections in Colombia were curated and identified to assess their diversity in the country. We examined 680 specimens, identifying 41 species belonging to seven genera, bringing the total of fungus-growing ant species known from Colombia to 85. The following species are new records for Colombia: Apterostigma angustum Lattke, 1997, Mycetomoellerius jamaicensis (André, 1893), Paratrachymyrmex diversus (Mann, 1916), and Paratrachymyrmex phaleratus (Wheeler, 1925).

scholarly journals Reconstructing the functions of endosymbiotic Mollicutes in fungus-growing ants

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Sapountzis ◽  
Mariya Zhukova ◽  
Jonathan Z Shik ◽  
Morten Schiott ◽  
Jacobus J Boomsma
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Functional Significance ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
Defense Systems ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Relative Abundances ◽  
Fungus Growing Ants ◽  
Substrate Types

Mollicutes, a widespread class of bacteria associated with animals and plants, were recently identified as abundant abdominal endosymbionts in healthy workers of attine fungus-farming leaf-cutting ants. We obtained draft genomes of the two most common strains harbored by Panamanian fungus-growing ants. Reconstructions of their functional significance showed that they are independently acquired symbionts, most likely to decompose excess arginine consistent with the farmed fungal cultivars providing this nitrogen-rich amino-acid in variable quantities. Across the attine lineages, the relative abundances of the two Mollicutes strains are associated with the substrate types that foraging workers offer to fungus gardens. One of the symbionts is specific to the leaf-cutting ants and has special genomic machinery to catabolize citrate/glucose into acetate, which appears to deliver direct metabolic energy to the ant workers. Unlike other Mollicutes associated with insect hosts, both attine ant strains have complete phage-defense systems, underlining that they are actively maintained as mutualistic symbionts.

Dispersal of Schinus fasciculatus seeds by the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex striatus in a shrubland of the dry Chaco, Argentina

2003 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Omar Varela ◽  
Teresa C. Perera
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Fungus Growing Ants

Ants are important agents of seed dispersal and they can play a fundamental role in the establishment and survival of plants (Beattie 1985). Leaf-cutting or fungus-growing ants (Myrmicinae: Attini) are dominant elements of the ant fauna throughout the neotropics. They collect different types of vegetative and reproductive plant material that serve as substrate for underground fungus gardens,which are the only food source for their larvae (Stradling 1991).

scholarly journals Evolution of acoustic communication in fungus-growing ant societies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Murakami ◽  
Hironori Sakamoto ◽  
Seigo Higashi
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Communication ◽  
Social Evolution ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Communication Tool ◽  
Major Question ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Structure Complexity ◽  
Fungus Growing Ants

Abstract Do ants ‘talk’? If so, how important is talking in ant societies? Chemical communication, through pheromones for example, was thought to be the main communication tool in ant societies; however, a major question is whether chemical substances alone can control highly differentiated social behaviours. In this study, we focused on the ‘talk’ of agricultural ants, key organisms in the Neotropical ecosystem, and conducted a detailed acoustic analysis. Our results indicate that in fungus-growing ants, acoustic communication is a much more frequent and critical factor than previously believed. The frequency of stridulatory sound-production recordings from the ants were found to be significantly correlated with social structure complexity. Structural analysis indicated that both the area and number of slits in the stridulatory acoustic organs were significantly correlated with body size. The ability of leaf-cutting ants to maintain fungus gardens was significantly lower in the sound-inhibited group than in the pheromone secretion-inhibited group. These results suggest that ants that have become ‘chattier’ may induce altruistic behaviours and create more complex societies. The findings of this study may be applicable not only to social evolution studies but also for effectively controlling ant behaviours.

scholarly journals Evolution of acoustic communication in fungus-growing ant societies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Murakami ◽  
Hironori Sakamoto ◽  
Seigo Higashi
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Communication ◽  
Social Evolution ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Communication Tool ◽  
Major Question ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Structure Complexity ◽  
Fungus Growing Ants

Abstract Do ants ‘talk’? If so, how important is talking in ant societies? Chemical communication, through pheromones for example, was thought to be the main communication tool in ant societies; however, a major question is whether chemical substances alone can control highly differentiated social behaviours. In this study, we focused on the ‘talk’ of agricultural ants, key organisms in the Neotropical ecosystem, and conducted a detailed acoustic analysis. Our results indicate that in fungus-growing ants, acoustic communication is a much more frequent and critical factor than previously believed. The frequency of stridulatory sound-production recordings from the ants were found to be significantly correlated with social structure complexity. Structural analysis indicated that both the area and number of slits in the stridulatory acoustic organs were significantly correlated with body size. The ability of leaf-cutting ants to maintain fungus gardens was significantly lower in the sound-inhibited group than in the pheromone secretion-inhibited group. These results suggest that ants that have become ‘chattier’ may induce altruistic behaviours and create more complex societies. The findings of this study may be applicable not only to social evolution studies but also for effectively controlling ant behaviours.

scholarly journals Nest Architecture and Animals Associated with Neoponera verenae (Forel) (Formicidae, Ponerinae)

Sociobiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. e6246
Author(s):  
Hugo Ribeiro Moleiro ◽  
Adolfo Da Silva-Melo ◽  
Edilberto Giannotti
Keyword(s):  
Prey Species ◽  
New Records ◽  
Nest Architecture ◽  
Talcum Powder ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Entrance Hole ◽  
Associated Species

The nests of ants Neoponera have chambers that can also be occupied by other species of organisms that can be tenants, visitors or prey. However, few studies have considered the assemblage of the associated species and described their composition. This study aimed to describe the architecture and catalog the visitors and prey species found in Neoponera verenae nests. Talcum powder was pumped inside eight nests to mark the chambers and tunnels. The nests were then excavated to describe the architecture and obtain measurements of chambers. The associated species encountered in the nests were collected and identified allowing us to obtain new records of visiting (Linepithema sp., cryptodesmid millipedes and Neotropacarus sp.) and prey taxa (membracids, apid bees and springtails) of N. verenae. Generally, nests had a single entrance hole and a depth of up to 42 cm. Nest chambers were found with three basic forms, elliptical, hangers and boot. Although studies show that this species can occupy abandoned nests of leaf-cutting ants, we found that the nests of N. verenae were more similar to those of Ectatomma ants. Indeed, we found one of the N. verenae nests was attached to a Ectatomma edentatum nest, leading us to suggest that N. verenae may occupy abandoned nests or displace other ants to occupy them.

Garden substrate preparation behaviours in fungus-growing ants

2007 ◽  
Vol 139 (6) ◽  
pp. 841-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.M. Mangone ◽  
C.R. Currie
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Food Source ◽  
The Other ◽  
Filamentous Bacteria ◽  
Fungus Garden ◽  
Substrate Preparation ◽  
Attine Ants ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Main Food Source ◽  
Fungus Growing Ants

AbstractFungus-growing ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: tribe Attini) engage in mutually beneficial symbioses with fungi (Basidiomycota) that serve as their main food source. The leaf-cutters (genera Acromyrmex Mayr and Atta Fabricius), the most derived attine ants, employ elaborate nest-hygiene behaviours, including substrate preparation. By preparing substrate prior to its incorporation into the fungus garden, workers facilitate the physical breakdown of leaf material while reducing the abundance of potentially harmful microbes that contact their fungal mutualist. Despite its importance in ant fungiculture, substrate preparation has not been investigated in other genera of fungus-growing ants. We examined substrate-preparation procedures used by five genera of fungus-growing ants (Apterostigma Mayr, Cyphomyrmex Mayr, Trachymyrmex Forel, Acromyrmex, and Atta) representing most of the phylogenetic range of the Attini. Behavioural observations revealed that all five genera engage in substrate-preparation behaviours. Furthermore, these behaviours vary by genus, with Trachymyrmex, Acromyrmex, and Atta engaging in more elaborate preparation behaviours than the other genera. Additionally, we found that during substrate preparation, leaf-cutting ants inoculate leaf fragments with actinomycetous bacteria. These filamentous bacteria are known to produce antibiotics that suppress fungal pathogens, which suggests that inoculation with the bacterial mutualist during substrate preparation helps protect the fungus gardens of leaf-cutter ants from these parasites. Our finding that substrate-preparation behaviours occur across the phylogenetic range of attine ants suggests that these behaviours are a critical component of successful fungiculture by ants.

The metapleural glands of fungus-growing and non-fungus-growing ants: Ultrastructural study

2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-294
Author(s):  
Alexsandro Santana Vieira ◽  
Odair Correa Bueno ◽  
Maria Izabel Camargo-Mathias
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Metapleural Gland ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Metapleural Glands ◽  
Feeding Type ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Fungus Growing Ants ◽  
Secretory Capacity

The metapleural glands are considered an autapomorphic structure to ants and probable have an antibiotic or antifungal function. The present study was aimed at investigating the ultrastructural morphology of the metapleural glands in ants which have different feeding types: from fungus-growing ants, the higher and lower attine, and non-fungus-growing ants from the tribes Blepharidattini and Ectatommini analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Plasma membrane invaginations in secretory cells of both fungus-growing and non-fungus-growing ants facilitate absorption of extracellular material from hemolymph. Higher and lower attines differed slightly from non-fungus-growing ants, by the presence of oval secretory cells and well-developed RER in the metapleural glands, which indicates a higher production of secretion in attines. Also, well-developed Golgi regions in the leaf-cutting ants and Ectatommini probably modify the secretions, produced by the secretory cell or coming of the hemolymph, into pheromone or antimicrobial compounds, the latter mainly in leaf-cutting ants. Still, the secretory cells of the metapleural gland of leaf-cutting ants exhibited several mitochondria near microvilli of the intracytoplasmic portion of the canaliculus, indicating an important role of the metapleural gland in the production and transport of secretion in metapleural gland of leaf-cutting ants. Thus, our work corroborates other findings, however our results add that the slight ultrastructural difference in the metapleural glands of leaf-cutting ants can be due to the feeding type (fungus-growing ants), resulting in greater secretory capacity and antimicrobial properties to combat pathogens (for example, micro-fungi parasites Escovopsis).

Antibiotic-producing bacteria associated with the nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa

Planta Medica ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
EA Silva-Junior ◽  
CR Paludo ◽  
FS Nascimento ◽  
CR Currie ◽  
J Clardy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Atta Sexdens Rubropilosa ◽  
Leaf Cutting

IPOMOEA LITTORALIS AND IPOMOEA CAPITELLATA VAR. MULTILOBATA : NEW RECORDS FOR UPPER GANGETIC PLAINS OF INDIA

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
JASWINDER KAUR ◽  
SATYA NARAIN
Keyword(s):  
New Records ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Gangetic Plains

The floristic exploration and critical examination of specimens collected of family Convolvulaceae from Upper Gangetic Plains of India, resulted in addition of 2 new records for the flora viz. Ipomoea littoralis and Ipomoea capitellata var. multilobata. Detailed description, phenology, ecology, distribution, locality, field number, type specimens examined, illustrations and other relevant notes are provided.

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