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Xiao Q, Wang L, Chen SQ, Zheng CY, Lu YY, Xu YJ. Gut Microbiome Composition of the Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta: an Integrated Analysis of Host Genotype and Geographical Distribution. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0358522. [PMID: 36602316 PMCID: PMC9927370 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03585-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut symbiotic bacteria are known to be closely related to insect development, nutrient metabolism, and disease resistance traits, but the most important factors leading to changes in these communities have not been well clarified. To address this, we examined the associations between the gut symbiotic bacteria and the host genotype and geographical distribution of Solenopsis invicta in China, where it is invasive and has spread primarily by human-mediated dispersal. Thirty-two phyla were detected in the gut symbiotic bacteria of S. invicta. Proteobacteria were the most dominant group among the gut symbiotic bacteria. Furthermore, the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrices of the gut symbiotic bacteria were significantly positively correlated with the geographical distance between the host ant colonies, but this relationship was affected by the social form. The distance between monogyne colonies had a significant effect on the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrices of gut symbiotic bacteria, but the distance between polygyne colonies did not. Moreover, the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrices were positively correlated with Nei's genetic distance of the host but were not correlated with the COI-based genetic distance. This study provides a scientific basis for further understanding the ecological adaptability of red imported fire ants during invasion and dispersal. IMPORTANCE We demonstrated that gut microbiota composition and diversity varied among populations. These among-population differences were associated with host genotype and geographical distribution. Our results suggested that population-level differences in S. invicta gut microbiota may depend more on environmental factors than on host genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Xiao
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Si-Qi Chen
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chun-Yan Zheng
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong-Yue Lu
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Juan Xu
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Ramalho MO, Moreau CS. Untangling the complex interactions between turtle ants and their microbial partners. Anim Microbiome 2023; 5:1. [PMID: 36597141 PMCID: PMC9809061 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-022-00223-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To understand the patterns of biodiversity it is important to consider symbiotic interactions as they can shape animal evolution. In several ant genera symbiotic interactions with microbial communities have been shown to have profound impacts for the host. For example, we know that for Camponotini the gut community can upgrade the host's diet and is shaped by development and colony interactions. However, what is true for one ant group may not be true for another. For the microbial communities that have been examined across ants we see variation in the diversity, host factors that structure these communities, and the function these microbes provide for the host. In the herbivorous turtle ants (Cephalotes) their stable symbiotic interactions with gut bacteria have persisted for 50 million years with the gut bacteria synthesizing essential amino acids that are used by the host. Although we know the function for some of these turtle ant-associated bacteria there are still many open questions. RESULTS In the present study we examined microbial community diversity (16S rRNA and 18S rRNA amplicons) of more than 75 species of turtle ants across different geographic locations and in the context of the host's phylogenetic history. Our results show (1) that belonging to a certain species and biogeographic regions are relevant to structuring the microbial community of turtle ants; (2) both bacterial and eukaryotic communities demonstrated correlations and cooccurrence within the ant host; (3) within the core bacterial community, Burkholderiaceae bacterial lineage were the only group that showed strong patterns of codiversification with the host, which is remarkable since the core bacterial community is stable and persistent. CONCLUSIONS We concluded that for the turtle ants there is a diverse and evolutionarily stable core bacterial community, which leads to interesting questions about what microbial or host factors influence when these partner histories become evolutionarily intertwined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela O. Ramalho
- grid.268132.c0000 0001 0701 2416Department of Biology, West Chester University, 750 South Church Street, West Chester, PA 19383 USA
| | - Corrie S. Moreau
- grid.5386.8000000041936877XDepartment of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA ,grid.5386.8000000041936877XDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
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Graber LC, Ramalho MO, Powell S, Moreau CS. Identifying the Role of Elevation, Geography, and Species Identity in Structuring Turtle Ant (Cephalotes Latreille, 1802) Bacterial Communities. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022:10.1007/s00248-022-02128-z. [PMID: 36352137 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02128-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial communities in animals are often necessary for hosts to survive, particularly for hosts with nutrient-limited diets. The composition, abundance, and richness of these bacterial communities may be shaped by host identity and external ecological factors. The turtle ants (genus Cephalotes) are predominantly herbivorous and known to rely on bacterial communities to enrich their diet. Cephalotes have a broad Neotropical distribution, with high diversity in the South American Cerrado, a geologically and biologically diverse savanna. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we examined the bacterial communities of forty-one Cephalotes samples of sixteen different species collected from multiple locations across two sites in the Cerrado (MG, Brazil) and compared the bacterial communities according to elevation, locality, species, and species group, defined by host phylogeny. Beta diversity of bacterial communities differed with respect to all categories but particularly strongly when compared by geographic location, species, and species group. Differences seen in species and species groups can be partially explained by the high abundance of Mesorhizobium in Cephalotes pusillus and Cephalotes depressus species groups, when compared to other clades via the Analysis of Composition of Microbiome (ANCOM). Though the Cephalotes bacterial community is highly conserved, results from this study indicate that multiple external factors can affect and change bacterial community composition and abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leland C Graber
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 129 Garden Ave, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
| | - Manuela O Ramalho
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 129 Garden Ave, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA, USA
| | - Scott Powell
- Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Corrie S Moreau
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 129 Garden Ave, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Rocha FP, Ronque MUV, Lyra ML, Bacci M, Oliveira PS. Habitat and Host Species Drive the Structure of Bacterial Communities of Two Neotropical Trap-Jaw Odontomachus Ants : Habitat and Host Species Drive the Structure of Bacterial Communities of Two Neotropical Trap-Jaw Odontomachus Ants. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022:10.1007/s00248-022-02064-y. [PMID: 35802173 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02064-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ants have long been known for their associations with other taxa, including macroscopic fungi and symbiotic bacteria. Recently, many ant species have had the composition and function of their bacterial communities investigated. Due to its behavioral and ecological diversity, the subfamily Ponerinae deserves more attention regarding its associated microbiota. Here, we used the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the bacterial communities of Odontomachus chelifer (ground-nesting) and Odontomachus hastatus (arboreal), two ponerine trap-jaw species commonly found in the Brazilian savanna ("Cerrado") and Atlantic rainforest. We investigated habitat effects (O. chelifer in the Cerrado and the Atlantic rainforest) and species-specific effects (both species in the Atlantic rainforest) on the bacterial communities' structure (composition and abundance) in two different body parts: cuticle and gaster. Bacterial communities differed in all populations studied. Cuticular communities were more diverse, while gaster communities presented variants common to other ants, including Wolbachia and Candidatus Tokpelaia hoelldoblerii. Odontomachus chelifer populations presented different communities in both body parts, highlighting the influence of habitat type. In the Atlantic rainforest, the outcome depended on the body part targeted. Cuticular communities were similar between species, reinforcing the habitat effect on bacterial communities, which are mainly composed of environmentally acquired taxa. Gaster communities, however, differed between the two Odontomachus species, suggesting species-specific effects and selective filters. Unclassified Firmicutes and uncultured Rhizobiales variants are the main components accounting for the observed differences. Our study indicates that both host species and habitat act synergistically, but to different degrees, to shape the bacterial communities in these Odontomachus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe P Rocha
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
- The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Island, SAR, Hong Kong
| | - Mariane U V Ronque
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil
- Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná, Ciências Biológicas, Cornélio Procópio, PR, Brazil
| | - Mariana L Lyra
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista - Campus Rio Claro, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
- New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Maurício Bacci
- Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais, Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Universidade Estadual Paulista - Campus Rio Claro, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Paulo S Oliveira
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil.
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Béchade B, Hu Y, Sanders JG, Cabuslay CS, Łukasik P, Williams BR, Fiers VJ, Lu R, Wertz JT, Russell JA. Turtle ants harbor metabolically versatile microbiomes with conserved functions across development and phylogeny. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:6602351. [PMID: 35660864 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut bacterial symbionts can support animal nutrition by facilitating digestion and providing valuable metabolites. However, changes in symbiotic roles between immature and adult stages are not well documented, especially in ants. Here, we explored the metabolic capabilities of microbiomes sampled from herbivorous turtle ant (Cephalotes sp.) larvae and adult workers through (meta)genomic screening and in vitro metabolic assays. We reveal that larval guts harbor bacterial symbionts with impressive metabolic capabilities, including catabolism of plant and fungal recalcitrant dietary fibers and energy-generating fermentation. Additionally, several members of the specialized adult gut microbiome, sampled downstream of an anatomical barrier that dams large food particles, show a conserved potential to depolymerize many dietary fibers. Symbionts from both life stages have the genomic capacity to recycle nitrogen and synthesize amino acids and B-vitamins. With help of their gut symbionts, including several bacteria likely acquired from the environment, turtle ant larvae may aid colony digestion and contribute to colony-wide nitrogen, B-vitamin and energy budgets. In addition, the conserved nature of the digestive capacities among adult-associated symbionts suggests that nutritional ecology of turtle ant colonies has long been shaped by specialized, behaviorally-transferred gut bacteria with over 45 million years of residency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoît Béchade
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Yi Hu
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.,State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jon G Sanders
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Christian S Cabuslay
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Piotr Łukasik
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Bethany R Williams
- Department of Biology, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Valerie J Fiers
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Richard Lu
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - John T Wertz
- Department of Biology, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Jacob A Russell
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Singh S, Singh A, Baweja V, Roy A, Chakraborty A, Singh IK. Molecular Rationale of Insect-Microbes Symbiosis-From Insect Behaviour to Mechanism. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9122422. [PMID: 34946024 PMCID: PMC8707026 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Insects nurture a panoply of microbial populations that are often obligatory and exist mutually with their hosts. Symbionts not only impact their host fitness but also shape the trajectory of their phenotype. This co-constructed niche successfully evolved long in the past to mark advanced ecological specialization. The resident microbes regulate insect nutrition by controlling their host plant specialization and immunity. It enhances the host fitness and performance by detoxifying toxins secreted by the predators and abstains them. The profound effect of a microbial population on insect physiology and behaviour is exploited to understand the host–microbial system in diverse taxa. Emergent research of insect-associated microbes has revealed their potential to modulate insect brain functions and, ultimately, control their behaviours, including social interactions. The revelation of the gut microbiota–brain axis has now unravelled insects as a cost-effective potential model to study neurodegenerative disorders and behavioural dysfunctions in humans. This article reviewed our knowledge about the insect–microbial system, an exquisite network of interactions operating between insects and microbes, its mechanistic insight that holds intricate multi-organismal systems in harmony, and its future perspectives. The demystification of molecular networks governing insect–microbial symbiosis will reveal the perplexing behaviours of insects that could be utilized in managing insect pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujata Singh
- Molecular Biology Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India; (S.S.); (V.B.)
- Department of Botany, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India;
| | - Archana Singh
- Department of Botany, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India;
| | - Varsha Baweja
- Molecular Biology Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India; (S.S.); (V.B.)
- DBC i4 Center, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India
| | - Amit Roy
- EVA 4.0 Unit, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Suchdol, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic;
- Excelentní Tým pro Mitigaci (ETM), Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Suchdol, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Amrita Chakraborty
- EVA 4.0 Unit, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Suchdol, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic;
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (I.K.S.)
| | - Indrakant Kumar Singh
- Molecular Biology Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India; (S.S.); (V.B.)
- DBC i4 Center, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (I.K.S.)
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Bacterial Composition and Diversity of the Digestive Tract of Odontomachus monticola Emery and Ectomomyrmex javanus Mayr. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12020176. [PMID: 33671250 PMCID: PMC7922086 DOI: 10.3390/insects12020176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Bacteria are considered to be one of the compelling participants in ant dietary differentiation. The digestive tract of ants is characterized by a developed crop, an elaborate proventriculus, and an infrabuccal pocket, which is a special filtrating structure in the mouthparts, adapting to their special trophallaxis behavior. Ponerine ants are true predators and a primitive ant group; notably, their gut bacterial communities get less attention than herbivorous ants. In this study, we investigated the composition and diversity of bacterial communities in the digestive tract and the infrabuccal pockets of two widely distributed ponerine species (Odontomachus monticola Emery and Ectomomyrmex javanus Mayr) in northwestern China using high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The results revealed that, not only do the gut bacterial communities display significant interspecies differences, but they also possess apparent intercolony characteristics. Within each colony, the bacterial communities were highly similar between each gut section (crops, midguts, and hindguts) of workers, but significantly different from their infrabuccal pockets, which were similar to bacterial communities in larvae of O. monticola. The relationship of the bacterial communities among the infrabuccal pockets, gut sections and larvae provide meaningful information to understand the social life and feeding behavior of ants. Abstract Ponerine ants are generalist predators feeding on a variety of small arthropods, annelids, and isopods; however, knowledge of their bacterial communities is rather limited. This study investigated the bacterial composition and diversity in the digestive tract (different gut sections and the infrabuccal pockets (IBPs)) of two ponerine ant species (Odontomachus monticola Emery and Ectomomyrmex javanus Mayr) distributed in northwestern China using high-throughput sequencing. We found that several dominant bacteria that exist in other predatory ants were also detected in these two ponerine ant species, including Wolbachia, Mesoplasma, and Spiroplasma. Bacterial communities of these two ant species were differed significantly from each other, and significant differences were also observed across their colonies, showing distinctive inter-colony characteristics. Moreover, bacterial communities between the gut sections (crops, midguts, and hindguts) of workers were highly similar within colony, but they were clearly different from those in IBPs. Further, bacterial communities in the larvae of O. monticola were similar to those in the IBPs of workers, but significantly different from those in gut sections. We presume that the bacterial composition and diversity in ponerine ants are related to their social behavior and feeding habits, and bacterial communities in the IBPs may play a potential role in their social life.
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Scarparo G, Rugman-Jones P, Gebiola M, Giulio AD, McFrederick QS. First screening of bacterial communities of Microdon myrmicae and its ant host: do microbes facilitate the invasion of ant colonies by social parasites? Basic Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2020.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Ramalho MDO, Martins C, Morini MSC, Bueno OC. What Can the Bacterial Community of Atta sexdens (Linnaeus, 1758) Tell Us about the Habitats in Which This Ant Species Evolves? INSECTS 2020; 11:E332. [PMID: 32481532 PMCID: PMC7349130 DOI: 10.3390/insects11060332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Studies of bacterial communities can reveal the evolutionary significance of symbiotic interactions between hosts and their associated bacteria, as well as identify environmental factors that may influence host biology. Atta sexdens is an ant species native to Brazil that can act as an agricultural pest due to its intense behavior of cutting plants. Despite being extensively studied, certain aspects of the general biology of this species remain unclear, such as the evolutionary implications of the symbiotic relationships it forms with bacteria. Using high-throughput amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes, we compared for the first time the bacterial community of A. sexdens (whole ant workers) populations according to the habitat (natural versus agricultural) and geographical location. Our results revealed that the bacterial community associated with A. sexdens is mainly influenced by the geographical location, and secondarily by the differences in habitat. Also, the bacterial community associated with citrus differed significantly from the other communities due to the presence of Tsukamurella. In conclusion, our study suggests that environmental shifts may influence the bacterial diversity found in A. sexdens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela de Oliveira Ramalho
- Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais—CEIS, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Campus Rio Claro, Avenida 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro 13506-900, SP, Brazil;
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 129 Garden Ave, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Cintia Martins
- Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Av. São Sebastião, 2819, Parnaíba, Piauí 64202-020, Brazil;
| | - Maria Santina Castro Morini
- Núcleo de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, Av. Dr. Cândido Xavier de Almeida e Souza, 200, Centro Cívico, Mogi das Cruzes 08780-911, SP, Brazil;
| | - Odair Correa Bueno
- Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais—CEIS, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Campus Rio Claro, Avenida 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro 13506-900, SP, Brazil;
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