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Tsz Long Wong D, Norman H, Creedy TJ, Jordaens K, Moran KM, Young A, Mengual X, Skevington JH, Vogler AP. The phylogeny and evolutionary ecology of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) inferred from mitochondrial genomes. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 184:107759. [PMID: 36921697 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are a diverse group of pollinators and a major research focus in ecology, but their phylogenetic relationships remain incompletely known. Using a genome skimming approach we generated mitochondrial genomes for 91 species, capturing a wide taxonomic diversity of the family. To reduce the required amount of input DNA and overall cost of the library construction, sequencing and assembly was conducted on mixtures of specimens, which raises the problem of chimera formation of mitogenomes. We present a novel chimera detection test based on gene tree incongruence, but identified only a single mitogenome of chimeric origin. Together with existing data for a final set of 127 taxa, phylogenetic analysis on nucleotide and amino acid sequences using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference revealed a basal split of Microdontinae from all other syrphids. The remainder consists of several deep clades assigned to the subfamily Eristalinae in the current classification, including a clade comprising the subfamily Syrphinae (plus Pipizinae). These findings call for a re-definition of subfamilies, but basal nodes had insufficient support to allow such action. Molecular-clock dating placed the origin of the Syrphidae crown group in the mid-Cretaceous while the Eristalinae-Syrphinae clade likely originated near the K/Pg boundary. Transformation of larval life history characters on the tree suggests that Syrphidae initially had sap feeding larvae, which diversified greatly in diet and habitat association during the Eocene and Oligocene, coinciding with the diversification of angiosperms and the evolution of various insect groups used as larval host, prey, or mimicry models. Mitogenomes proved to be a powerful phylogenetic marker for studies of Syrphidae at subfamily and tribe levels, allowing dense taxon sampling that provided insight into the great ecological diversity and rapid evolution of larval life history traits of the hoverflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Tsz Long Wong
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2BX, U.K; Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, U.K.
| | - Hannah Norman
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2BX, U.K; Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, U.K.
| | - Thomas J Creedy
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2BX, U.K; Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, U.K.
| | - Kurt Jordaens
- Department of Biology-Invertebrates Unit, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Joint Experimental Molecular Unit Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium.
| | - Kevin M Moran
- Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, K.W. Neatby Building, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, ON K1S 5B6, Canada.
| | - Andrew Young
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Ximo Mengual
- Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Jeffrey H Skevington
- Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, K.W. Neatby Building, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, ON K1S 5B6, Canada.
| | - Alfried P Vogler
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2BX, U.K; Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, U.K.
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Gowri Shankar P, Swamy P, Williams RC, Ganesh SR, Moss M, Höglund J, Das I, Sahoo G, Vijayakumar SP, Shanker K, Wüster W, Dutta SK. King or royal family? Testing for species boundaries in the King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836), using morphology and multilocus DNA analyses. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021; 165:107300. [PMID: 34474153 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
In widespread species, the diverse ecological conditions in which the populations occur, and the presence of many potential geographical barriers through their range are expected to have created ample opportunities for the evolution of distinct, often cryptic lineages. In this work, we tested for species boundaries in one such widespread species, the king cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836), a largely tropical elapid snake distributed across the Oriental realm. Based on extensive geographical sampling across most of the range of the species, we initially tested for candidate species (CS) using Maximum-Likelihood analysis of mitochondrial genes. We then tested the resulting CS using both morphological data and sequences of three single-copy nuclear genes. We used snapclust to determine the optimal number of clusters in the nuclear dataset, and Bayesian Phylogenetics and Phylogeography (BPP) to test for likely species status. We used non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) analysis for discerning morphological separation. We recovered four independently evolving, geographically separated lineages that we consider Confirmed Candidate Species: (1) Western Ghats lineage; (2) Indo-Chinese lineage (3) Indo-Malayan lineage; (4) Luzon Island lineage, in the Philippine Archipelago. We discuss patterns of lineage divergence, particularly in the context of low morphological divergence, and the conservation implications of recognizing several endemic king cobra lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Gowri Shankar
- Maharaja Shrirama Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada, Takatpur, Odisha, India; CES, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India; Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Sweden; Kālinga Foundation, Agumbe, Karnataka, India.
| | | | - Rhiannon C Williams
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, Wales, UK
| | - S R Ganesh
- Chennai Snake Park, Raj Bhavan Post, Chennai, India
| | - Matt Moss
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, Wales, UK
| | - Jacob Höglund
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Indraneil Das
- Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | | | | | | | - Wolfgang Wüster
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, Wales, UK
| | - Sushil K Dutta
- Maharaja Shrirama Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada, Takatpur, Odisha, India; Department of Zoology, Assam Don Bosco University, Tapesia, Assam, India
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Ajayi OS, Chen L, Fadamiro HY. Host preference in parasitic phorid flies: response of Pseudacteon curvatus and P. obtusus to venom alkaloids of native and imported Solenopsis fire ants. CHEMOECOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00049-020-00313-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Patricelli D, Barbero F, Occhipinti A, Bertea CM, Bonelli S, Casacci LP, Zebelo SA, Crocoll C, Gershenzon J, Maffei ME, Thomas JA, Balletto E. Plant defences against ants provide a pathway to social parasitism in butterflies. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:rspb.2015.1111. [PMID: 26156773 PMCID: PMC4528562 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.1111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the chemical cues and gene expressions that mediate herbivore–host-plant and parasite–host interactions can elucidate the ecological costs and benefits accruing to different partners in tight-knit community modules, and may reveal unexpected complexities. We investigated the exploitation of sequential hosts by the phytophagous–predaceous butterfly Maculinea arion, whose larvae initially feed on Origanum vulgare flowerheads before switching to parasitize Myrmica ant colonies for their main period of growth. Gravid female butterflies were attracted to Origanum plants that emitted high levels of the monoterpenoid volatile carvacrol, a condition that occurred when ants disturbed their roots: we also found that Origanum expressed four genes involved in monoterpene formation when ants were present, accompanied by a significant induction of jasmonates. When exposed to carvacrol, Myrmica workers upregulated five genes whose products bind and detoxify this biocide, and their colonies were more tolerant of it than other common ant genera, consistent with an observed ability to occupy the competitor-free spaces surrounding Origanum. A cost is potential colony destruction by Ma. arion, which in turn may benefit infested Origanum plants by relieving their roots of further damage. Our results suggest a new pathway, whereby social parasites can detect successive resources by employing plant volatiles to simultaneously select their initial plant food and a suitable sequential host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Patricelli
- Zoology Unit, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, Turin 10123, Italy
| | - Francesca Barbero
- Zoology Unit, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, Turin 10123, Italy
| | - Andrea Occhipinti
- Plant Physiology Unit, Department Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Innovation Centre, Via Quarello 15/A, Turin 10135, Italy
| | - Cinzia M Bertea
- Plant Physiology Unit, Department Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Innovation Centre, Via Quarello 15/A, Turin 10135, Italy
| | - Simona Bonelli
- Zoology Unit, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, Turin 10123, Italy
| | - Luca P Casacci
- Zoology Unit, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, Turin 10123, Italy
| | - Simon A Zebelo
- Plant Physiology Unit, Department Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Innovation Centre, Via Quarello 15/A, Turin 10135, Italy
| | - Christoph Crocoll
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, Frederiksberg C 1871, Denmark
| | - Jonathan Gershenzon
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Beutenberg Campus, Hans-Knoell-Strasse 8, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Massimo E Maffei
- Plant Physiology Unit, Department Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Innovation Centre, Via Quarello 15/A, Turin 10135, Italy
| | - Jeremy A Thomas
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Tinbergen Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Emilio Balletto
- Zoology Unit, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, Turin 10123, Italy
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Schmid VS, Morales MN, Marinoni L, Kamke R, Steiner J, Zillikens A. Natural history and morphology of the hoverfly Pseudomicrodon biluminiferus and its parasitic relationship with ants nesting in bromeliads. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2014; 14:38. [PMID: 25373185 PMCID: PMC5657375 DOI: 10.1093/jis/14.1.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2012] [Accepted: 10/12/2012] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The syrphid subfamily Microdontinae is characterized by myrmecophily of their immature stages, i.e., they develop in ant nests. Data on natural history of microdontines are scarce, especially in the Neotropics. Based on fieldwork in southern Brazil, this study provided new data on development and ecology of the hoverfly Pseudomicrodon biluminiferus (Hull) (Diptera: Syrphidae) as well as the first morphological descriptions of male genitalia, larvae, and pupa. Immature specimens were specifically found in colonies of the ant species Crematogaster limata Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) found in rosettes of the bromeliad species Aechmea lindenii (E. Morren) Baker (Poales: Bromeliaceae) and A. nudicaulis (L.) Grisebach. Third instar larvae were observed preying on ant larvae, revealing the parasitic nature of P. biluminiferus. In this and several other aspects, the natural history of P. biluminiferus is similar to that of Holarctic microdontine species. Exceptions include: (i) indications that adults of P. biluminiferus outlast the winter months (in contrast to 3(rd)instar larvae in Holarctic species) and (ii) P. biluminiferus' relationship with bromeliads. The importance of bromeliads for this host-parasite system is evaluated in this paper. The single occurrence of another, unidentified microdontine species' pupae in a nest of the ant species Camponotus melanoticus Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker S Schmid
- Biologie I, Universität Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany Med.-Naturwissenschaftliches Forschungszentrum, Ob dem Himmelreich 7, Universität Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Mírian N Morales
- Universidade Federal do Paraná - UFPR, Dept. de Zoologia, Pós-graduação em Entomologia, Cx. Postal 19020, 81531-980 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Luciane Marinoni
- Universidade Federal do Paraná - UFPR, Dept. de Zoologia, Pós-graduação em Entomologia, Cx. Postal 19020, 81531-980 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Rafael Kamke
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Laboratório de Abelhas Nativas (LANUFSC), Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Campus Universitário Trindade, 88040-900 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Josefina Steiner
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Laboratório de Abelhas Nativas (LANUFSC), Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Campus Universitário Trindade, 88040-900 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Anne Zillikens
- Med.-Naturwissenschaftliches Forschungszentrum, Ob dem Himmelreich 7, Universität Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Laboratório de Abelhas Nativas (LANUFSC), Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Campus Universitário Trindade, 88040-900 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
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Pérez-Lachaud G, Jervis MA, Reemer M, Lachaud JP. An unusual, but not unexpected, evolutionary step taken by syrphid flies: the first record of true primary parasitoidism of ants by Microdontinae. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Pérez-Lachaud
- El Colegio de la Frontera Sur; Conservación de la Biodiversidad; Avenida Centenario Km 5.5, Chetumal 77014 Quintana Roo Mexico
| | - Mark A. Jervis
- Cardiff School of Biosciences; Cardiff University; Cardiff CF10 3AX UK
| | - Menno Reemer
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center; European Invertebrate Survey; PO Box 9517 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Paul Lachaud
- El Colegio de la Frontera Sur; Conservación de la Biodiversidad; Avenida Centenario Km 5.5, Chetumal 77014 Quintana Roo Mexico
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale; CNRS-UMR 5169; Université de Toulouse UPS; 118 route de Narbonne 31062 Toulouse Cedex 09 France
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Witek M, Casacci LP, Barbero F, Patricelli D, Sala M, Bossi S, Maffei M, Woyciechowski M, Balletto E, Bonelli S. Interspecific relationships in co-occurring populations of social parasites and their host ants. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Witek
- Museum and Institute of Zoology; Polish Academy of Sciences; Wilcza 64; 00-679; Warszawa; Poland
| | - Luca Pietro Casacci
- Zoology Unit; Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology; University of Turin; Via Accademia Albertina 13; 10123; Torino; Italy
| | - Francesca Barbero
- Zoology Unit; Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology; University of Turin; Via Accademia Albertina 13; 10123; Torino; Italy
| | - Dario Patricelli
- Zoology Unit; Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology; University of Turin; Via Accademia Albertina 13; 10123; Torino; Italy
| | - Marco Sala
- Zoology Unit; Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology; University of Turin; Via Accademia Albertina 13; 10123; Torino; Italy
| | - Simone Bossi
- Plant Physiology Unit; Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology; University of Turin; Innovation Centre, Via Quarello 11 A−1; 10135; Torino; Italy
| | - Massimo Maffei
- Plant Physiology Unit; Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology; University of Turin; Innovation Centre, Via Quarello 11 A−1; 10135; Torino; Italy
| | - Michal Woyciechowski
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Gronostajowa 7; 30-387; Kraków; Poland
| | - Emilio Balletto
- Zoology Unit; Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology; University of Turin; Via Accademia Albertina 13; 10123; Torino; Italy
| | - Simona Bonelli
- Zoology Unit; Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology; University of Turin; Via Accademia Albertina 13; 10123; Torino; Italy
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Chen L, Ochieng SA, He X, Fadamiro HY. Comparing electroantennogram and behavioral responses of two Pseudacteon phorid fly species to body extracts of Black, Red and Hybrid imported fire ants, Solenopsis spp. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2012; 58:1360-1367. [PMID: 22846844 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2012.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2012] [Revised: 07/18/2012] [Accepted: 07/19/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Several phorid fly species were introduced to the southern United States for biological control of the invasive imported fire ants, Solenopsis richteri (Black), Solenopsis invicta (Red), and their Hybrid S. richteri×S. invicta (Hybrid). It has been previously reported that the Jaguariuna biotype of Pseudacteon tricuspis and the Formosan biotype of Pseudacteon curvatus could distinguish among the three fire ant species with greater preference for Hybrid and Red fire ants. We hypothesized that phorid flies might use host derived chemical cues to differentiate ant species. To determine possible differential olfactory sensitivity of phorid fly species to different fire ant species, we compared electroantennogram (EAG) and behavioral responses of both sexes of P. tricuspis and P. curvatus to body extracts of Black, Red and Hybrid fire ants. As worker sizes of Black and Hybrid fire ants used in this study were much larger than that of Red fire ant (the average weight for Black, Red and Hybrid workers was 1.707, 0.863, 1.223mg per ants, respectively), at doses of 0.01, 0.1, 1 worker equivalent, body extracts of Black and Hybrid fire ant elicited significantly greater EAG response in both sexes of P. tricuspis than that of Red fire ant. Similarly, the EAG response in female P. curvatus to body extract of Black fire ant was significantly greater than to body extract of Red fire ant. To eliminate worker size influence on EAG response in phorid flies, we conducted a second EAG study using a dose of 1mg ant equivalent (body extract from 1mg of worker). No difference in EAG responses was recorded to body extract obtained from the same amount of workers among the three fire ant species (we consider viable Hybrid fire ant as a species in this paper), suggesting that worker size differences contributed to difference in EAG response in the first EAG study. In both EAG studies, male P. tricuspis showed significantly greater EAG responses than male P. curvatus to all three fire ant species. In four-way olfactometer bioassay, worker body extracts of all three fire ant species were equally attractive to P. tricuspis and P. curvatus (i.e. both phorid fly species did not show any preferences among the three fire ant species). Together, the results of the EAG and behavior studies suggest that parasitic phorid flies utilize host derived non-polar compounds from worker ants extracted out by hexane for host location but not for host preference, since both fly species are not able to distinguish among the body extracts of the three fire ant species. Future study will investigate possible involvement of polar compounds and/or non-chemical cues in mediating host preference by phorid flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China.
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Cárdenas M, Jiroš P, Pekár S. Selective olfactory attention of a specialised predator to intraspecific chemical signals of its prey. Naturwissenschaften 2012; 99:597-605. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-012-0938-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2012] [Revised: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 06/22/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Hovestadt T, Thomas JA, Mitesser O, Elmes GW, Schönrogge K. Unexpected benefit of a social parasite for a key fitness component of its ant host. Am Nat 2011; 179:110-23. [PMID: 22173464 DOI: 10.1086/663203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Numerous invertebrates inhabit social insect colonies, including the hoverfly genus Microdon, whose larvae typically live as brood predators. Formica lemani ant colonies apparently endure Microdon mutabilis infections over several years, despite losing a considerable fraction of young, and may even produce more gynes. We present a model for resource allocation within polygynous ant colonies, which assumes that whether an ant larva switches development into a worker or a gyne depends on the quantity of food received randomly from workers. Accordingly, Microdon predation promotes gyne development by increasing resource availability for surviving broods. Several model predictions are supported by empirical data. (i) Uninfected colonies seldom produce gynes. (ii) Infected colonies experience a short-lived peak in gyne production leading to a bimodal distribution in gyne production. (iii) Low brood : worker ratio is the critical mechanism controlling gyne production. (iv) Brood : worker ratio reduction must be substantial for increased gyne production to become noticeable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hovestadt
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7179, 1 Avenue du Petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France.
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CHAIANUNPORN T, HOVESTADT T. The role of mobility for the emergence of diversity in victim-exploiter systems. J Evol Biol 2011; 24:2473-84. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02375.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Settele J, Barbero F, Musche M, Thomas JA, Schönrogge K. Singing the blues: from experimental biology to conservation application. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 214:1407-10. [PMID: 21490248 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.035329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Chemical communication plays a major role in the organisation of ant societies, and is mimicked to near perfection by certain large blue (Maculinea) butterflies that parasitise Myrmica ant colonies. The recent discovery of differentiated acoustical communication between different castes of ants, and the fact that this too is mimicked by the butterflies, adds a new component of coevolutionary complexity to a fascinating multitrophic system of endangered species, and it could inspire new ways to engage the public in their conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Settele
- UFZ, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Community Ecology, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120 Halle, Germany.
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Sharma K, Vander Meer RK, Fadamiro HY. Phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis, response to alkylpyrazine analogs of a fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, alarm pheromone. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2011; 57:939-944. [PMID: 21524656 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2011.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2011] [Revised: 04/05/2011] [Accepted: 04/07/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier, is a parasitoid of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. This fly has been reported to use fire ant chemicals, specifically venom alkaloids and possibly alarm pheromone to locate its host. A recent study identified 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethyl pyrazine as a component of the alarm pheromone of S. invicta. To determine the possible involvement of this fire ant alarm pheromone component in mediating fire ant-phorid fly interactions, we tested electroantennogram (EAG) and behavioral responses of P. tricuspis females to the commercially available mixture of 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethyl pyrazine and its 3,5-dimethyl isomer, as well as six structurally related alkylpyrazine analogs at varying doses. Pseudacteon tricuspis females showed significant EAG response to 2-ethyl-3,6(or 5)-dimethyl pyrazine (herein referred to as pheromone-isomer) at all doses, 0.001-10 μg. Among the tested alkylpyrazine analogs, 2,3-diethyl-5-methyl pyrazine showed significant EAG activity at 0.1 and 1 μg. 2,3-dimethyl pyrazine also showed significant EAG activity at 0.1 μg. Results of four-choice olfactometer bioassays demonstrated significant attraction of P. tricuspis females to the pheromone-isomer (2-ethyl-3,6(or 5)-dimethyl pyrazine) at all tested doses (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 μg). The analogs, 2,3-diethyl-5-methyl pyrazine and 2,3-dimethyl pyrazine were significantly better than the control at the higher doses (0.1, 1 and 10 μg). The pheromone-isomer was significantly better than both analogs at two doses, 0.1 and 1 μg. These results confirm that the reported fire ant alarm pheromone component plays a role in mediating attraction of phorid flies to host workers. Venom alkaloids were previously shown to attract P. tricuspis; therefore, we propose that fire ant alarm pheromones may act in tandem or synergistically with venom alkaloids to attract phorid fly parasitoids to fire ant workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavita Sharma
- Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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Methyl 6-methylsalicylate: a female-produced pheromone component of the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius. J Chem Ecol 2010; 36:1140-7. [PMID: 20820889 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-010-9855-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2010] [Revised: 06/03/2010] [Accepted: 08/25/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Sex-pheromone-related behavior and chemistry were studied in the wasp Spalangia endius Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a pupal parasitoid of the house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae). Males responded behaviorally to female extracts by arrestment, whereas females did not arrest to male extracts. In a comparison of male and female extracts by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), two female-specific compounds were found. One was identified as methyl 6-methylsalicylate (gas chromatographic retention time and mass spectrum versus an authentic standard), but the chemical structure of the second compound is still unknown. Male antennae were sensitive to both compounds in electrophysiological tests (GC-EAD). Males responded behaviorally to methyl 6-methylsalicylate by arrestment, but did not arrest to the second compound. Methyl 6-methylsalicylate has been reported previously from some ant and beetle species, but never from the Pteromalidae. Chemical analysis of the extracts and the male behavioral results are consistent with the hypothesis that methyl 6-methylsalicylate functions as a female-emitted pheromone component at short range, but the exact role of both compounds in intersexual interactions in S. endius remains to be determined.
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Gazal V, Bailez O, Viana-Bailez AM. Mechanism of host recognition in Neodohrniphora elongata (Brown) (Diptera: Phoridae). Anim Behav 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2009.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Kroiss J, Bordon S, Strohm E. Hydrocarbons in the nest material of a solitary digger wasp represent a kairomone for a specialized cuckoo wasp. Anim Behav 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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