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Chen J. Chemistry and Functions of Imported Fire Ant Venom. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:489. [PMID: 37624246 PMCID: PMC10467070 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15080489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In the United States, imported fire ants are often referred to as red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, black imported fire ants, S. richteri Forel, and their hybrid (S. invicta × S. richteri). Due to their aggressive stings and toxic venom, imported fire ants pose a significant threat to public health, agriculture, and ecosystem health. However, venom plays a vital role in the survival of fire ants by serving various crucial functions in defense, foraging, and colony health maintenance. Numerous reviews and book chapters have been published on fire ant venom. Due to its medical importance and the expanding global distribution of these ants, fire ant venom research remains an active and highly productive area, leading to the discovery of new components and functions. This review summarizes the recent advances in our understanding of fire ant venom chemistry and its functions within fire ant colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Chen
- Biological Control of Pests Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA
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2
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Dejean A, Azémar F, Naskrecki P, Tindo M, Rossi V, Faucher C, Gryta H. Mutualistic interactions between ants and fungi: A review. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10386. [PMID: 37529578 PMCID: PMC10375366 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The large amount of dead plant biomass caused by the final extinction events triggered a fungi proliferation that mostly differentiated into saprophytes degrading organic matter; others became parasites, predators, likely commensals, and mutualists. Among the last, many have relationships with ants, the most emblematic seen in the Neotropical myrmicine Attina that cultivate Basidiomycota for food. Among them, leaf-cutting, fungus-growing species illustrate an ecological innovation because they grow fungal gardens from fresh plant material rather than arthropod frass and plant debris. Myrmecophytes shelter "plant-ants" in hollow structures, the domatia, whose inner walls are lined with thin-walled Ascomycota hyphae that, in certain cases, are eaten by the ants, showing a form of convergence. Typically, these Ascomycota have antibacterial properties illustrating cases of farming for protection. Ant gardens, or mutualistic associations between certain ant species and epiphytes, shelter endophytic fungi that promote the growth of the epiphytes. Because the cell walls of certain Ascomycota hyphae remain sturdy after the death of the mycelium, they form resistant fibers used by ants to reinforce their constructions (e.g., galleries, shelters for tended hemipterans, and carton nests). Thus, we saw cases of "true" fungal agriculture involving planting, cultivating, and harvesting Basidiomycota for food with Attina. A convergence with "plant-ants" feeding on Ascomycota whose antibacterial activity is generally exploited (i.e., farming for protection). The growth of epiphytes was promoted by endophytic fungi in ant gardens. Finally, farming for structural materials occurred with, in one case, a leaf-cutting, fungus-growing ant using Ascomycota fibers to reinforce its nests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Dejean
- Laboratoire Écologie Fonctionnelle et EnvironnementUniversité de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 – Paul Sabatier (UPS)ToulouseFrance
- UMR EcoFoG, AgroParisTechCirad, CNRS, INRA, Université des Antilles, Université de GuyaneKourouFrance
| | - Frédéric Azémar
- Laboratoire Écologie Fonctionnelle et EnvironnementUniversité de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 – Paul Sabatier (UPS)ToulouseFrance
| | - Piotr Naskrecki
- Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Maurice Tindo
- Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Animal Organisms, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of DoualaDoualaCameroon
| | - Vivien Rossi
- Remote Sensing and Forest Ecology Lab, Higher Teacher's Training CollegeMarien Ngouabi UniversityBrazzavilleDemocratic Republic of the Congo
- R U Forests and Societies, CIRADBrazzavilleDemocratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Christian Faucher
- Laboratoire Evolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174) CNRSIRD, Université Toulouse 3ToulouseFrance
| | - Hervé Gryta
- Laboratoire Evolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174) CNRSIRD, Université Toulouse 3ToulouseFrance
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3
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Abstract
Ants have outstanding capacity to mediate inter- and intraspecific interactions by producing structurally diverse metabolites from numerous secretory glands. Since Murray Blum's pioneering studies dating from the 1950s, there has been a growing interest in arthropod toxins as natural products. Over a dozen different alkaloid classes have been reported from approximately 40 ant genera in five subfamilies, with peak diversity within the Myrmicinae tribe Solenopsidini. Most ant alkaloids function as venom, but some derive from other glands with alternative functions. They are used in defense (e.g., alarm, repellants) or offense (e.g., toxins) but also serve as antimicrobials and pheromones. We provide an overview of ant alkaloid diversity and function with an evolutionary perspective. We conclude that more directed integrative research is needed. We suggest that comparative phylogenetics will illuminate compound diversification, while molecular approaches will elucidate genetic origins. Biological context, informed by natural history, remains critical not only for research about focal species, but also to guide applied research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Gonçalves Paterson Fox
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21044-020, Brazil;
| | - Rachelle M M Adams
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA;
- Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC 20560, USA
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Abstract
Eusociality represents an extreme form of social behavior characterized by a reproductive division of labor. Eusociality necessarily evolved through kin selection, which requires interactions among related individuals. However, many eusocial taxa also show cooperation between non-kin groups, challenging the idea that cooperative actions should only occur among relatives. This review explores the causes and consequences of non-kin cooperation in ants. Ants display a diversity of behaviors that lead to non-kin cooperation within and between species. These interactions occur among both reproductive and non-reproductive individuals. The proximate and ultimate mechanisms leading to non-kin cooperative interactions differ substantially depending on the biotic and abiotic environment. We end this review with directions for future research and suggest that the investigation of non-kin cooperative actions provides insight into processes leading to social evolution.
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Cardenas CR, Luo AR, Jones TH, Schultz TR, Adams RM. Using an integrative taxonomic approach to delimit a sibling species, Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos sp. nov. (Formicidae: Attini: Attina). PeerJ 2021; 9:e11622. [PMID: 34221725 PMCID: PMC8236233 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungus-growing ant Mycetomoellerius (previously Trachymyrmex) zeteki (Weber 1940) has been the focus of a wide range of studies examining symbiotic partners, garden pathogens, mating frequencies, and genomics. This is in part due to the ease of collecting colonies from creek embankments and its high abundance in the Panama Canal region. The original description was based on samples collected on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama. However, most subsequent studies have sampled populations on the mainland 15 km southeast of BCI. Herein we show that two sibling ant species live in sympatry on the mainland: Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos Cardenas, Schultz, & Adams and M. zeteki. This distinction was originally based on behavioral differences of workers in the field and on queen morphology (M. mikromelanos workers and queens are smaller and black while those of M. zeteki are larger and red). Authors frequently refer to either species as "M. cf. zeteki," indicating uncertainty about identity. We used an integrative taxonomic approach to resolve this, examining worker behavior, chemical profiles of worker volatiles, molecular markers, and morphology of all castes. For the latter, we used conventional taxonomic indicators from nine measurements, six extrapolated indices, and morphological characters. We document a new observation of a Diapriinae (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) parasitoid wasp parasitizing M. zeteki. Finally, we discuss the importance of vouchering in dependable, accessible museum collections and provide a table of previously published papers to clarify the usage of the name T. zeteki. We found that most reports of M. zeteki or M. cf. zeteki-including a genome-actually refer to the new species M. mikromelanos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody Raul Cardenas
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Amy Rongyan Luo
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States of America
| | - Tappey H. Jones
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA, United States of America
| | - Ted R. Schultz
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Colombia, United States of America
| | - Rachelle M.M. Adams
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Colombia, United States of America
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6
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Pacheco PSM, Del-Claro K. Spatio-temporal variation influences the division of labour in Pseudomyrmex concolor Smith (Formicidae: Pseudomyrmecinae). J ETHOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-021-00695-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Sozanski K, do Prado LP, Mularo AJ, Sadowski VA, Jones TH, Adams RMM. Venom Function of a New Species of Megalomyrmex Forel, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:E679. [PMID: 33137918 PMCID: PMC7693960 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12110679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alkaloids are important metabolites found across a variety of organisms with diverse ecological functions. Of particular interest are alkaloids found in ants, organisms well known for dominating the ecosystems they dwell in. Within ants, alkaloids are found in venom and function as potent weapons against heterospecific species. However, research is often limited to pest species or species with parasitic lifestyles and thus fails to address the broader ecological function of ant venom alkaloids. Here we describe a new species of free-living Megalomyrmex ant: Megalomyrmex peetersi sp. n. In addition, we identify its singular venom alkaloid (trans-2-butyl-5-heptylpyrrolidine) and elucidate the antibiotic and insecticidal functions of its venom. Our results show that Megalomyrmex peetersi sp. n. venom is an effective antibiotic and insecticide. These results are comparable to venom alkaloids found in other ant species, such as Solenopsis invicta. This research provides great insight into venom alkaloid function, and it is the first study to explore these ideas in the Megalomyrmex system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Sozanski
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (K.S.); (V.A.S.)
| | - Lívia Pires do Prado
- Coordenação de Ciências da Terra e Ecologia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi 66077-830, PA, Brazil;
| | - Andrew J. Mularo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, Indiana, IN 47907, USA;
| | - Victoria A. Sadowski
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (K.S.); (V.A.S.)
| | - Tappey H. Jones
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Military Institute, Virgina, VA 24450, USA;
| | - Rachelle M. M. Adams
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (K.S.); (V.A.S.)
- Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC 20560, USA
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Hoenle PO, Blüthgen N, Brückner A, Kronauer DJC, Fiala B, Donoso DA, Smith MA, Ospina Jara B, von Beeren C. Species-level predation network uncovers high prey specificity in a Neotropical army ant community. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:2423-2440. [PMID: 31050080 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Army ants are among the top arthropod predators and considered keystone species in tropical ecosystems. During daily mass raids with many thousand workers, army ants hunt live prey, likely exerting strong top-down control on prey species. Many tropical sites exhibit a high army ant species diversity (>20 species), suggesting that sympatric species partition the available prey niches. However, whether and to what extent this is achieved has not been intensively studied yet. We therefore conducted a large-scale diet survey of a community of surface-raiding army ants at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. We systematically collected 3,262 prey items from eleven army ant species (genera Eciton, Nomamyrmex and Neivamyrmex). Prey items were classified as ant prey or non-ant prey. The prey nearly exclusively consisted of other ants (98%), and most booty was ant brood (87%). Using morphological characters and DNA barcoding, we identified a total of 1,103 ant prey specimens to the species level. One hundred twenty-nine ant species were detected among the army ant prey, representing about 30% of the known local ant diversity. Using weighted bipartite network analyses, we show that prey specialization in army ants is unexpectedly high and prey niche overlap very small. Besides food niche differentiation, we uncovered a spatiotemporal niche differentiation in army ant raid activity. We discuss competition-driven multidimensional niche differentiation and predator-prey arms races as possible mechanisms underlying prey specialization in army ants. By combining systematic prey sampling with species-level prey identification and network analyses, our integrative approach can guide future research by portraying how predator-prey interactions in complex communities can be reliably studied, even in cases where morphological prey identification is infeasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp O Hoenle
- Ecological Networks, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.,Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nico Blüthgen
- Ecological Networks, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Adrian Brückner
- Ecological Networks, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.,Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - Daniel J C Kronauer
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York City, New York
| | - Brigitte Fiala
- Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - David A Donoso
- Departamento de Biología, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador
| | - M Alex Smith
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Christoph von Beeren
- Ecological Networks, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
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Tolley SJA, Nonacs P, Sapountzis P. Wolbachia Horizontal Transmission Events in Ants: What Do We Know and What Can We Learn? Front Microbiol 2019; 10:296. [PMID: 30894837 PMCID: PMC6414450 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
While strict vertical transmission insures the durability of intracellular symbioses, phylogenetic incongruences between hosts and endosymbionts suggest horizontal transmission must also occur. These horizontal acquisitions can have important implications for the biology of the host. Wolbachia is one of the most ecologically successful prokaryotes in arthropods, infecting an estimated 50–70% of all insect species. Much of this success is likely due to the fact that, in arthropods, Wolbachia is notorious for manipulating host reproduction to favor transmission through the female germline. However, its natural potential for horizontal transmission remains poorly understood. Here we evaluate the fundamental prerequisites for successful horizontal transfer, including necessary environmental conditions, genetic potential of bacterial strains, and means of mediating transfers. Furthermore, we revisit the relatedness of Wolbachia strains infecting the Panamanian leaf-cutting ant, Acromyrmex echinatior, and its inquiline social parasite, Acromyrmex insinuator, and compare our results to a study published more than 15 years ago by Van Borm et al. (2003). The results of this pilot study prompt us to reevaluate previous notions that obligate social parasitism reliably facilitates horizontal transfer and suggest that not all Wolbachia strains associated with ants have the same genetic potential for horizontal transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J A Tolley
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Peter Nonacs
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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10
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Grüter C, Jongepier E, Foitzik S. Insect societies fight back: the evolution of defensive traits against social parasites. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:20170200. [PMID: 29866913 PMCID: PMC6000133 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Insect societies face many social parasites that exploit their altruistic behaviours or their resources. Due to the fitness costs these social parasites incur, hosts have evolved various behavioural, chemical, architectural and morphological defence traits. Similar to bacteria infecting multicellular hosts, social parasites have to successfully go through several steps to exploit their hosts. Here, we review how social insects try to interrupt this sequence of events. They can avoid parasite contact by choosing to nest in parasite-free locales or evade attacks by adapting their colony structure. Once social parasites attack, hosts attempt to detect them, which can be facilitated by adjustments in colony odour. If social parasites enter the nest, hosts can either aggressively defend their colony or take their young and flee. Nest structures are often shaped to prevent social parasite invasion or to safeguard host resources. Finally, if social parasites successfully establish themselves in host nests, hosts can rebel by killing the parasite brood or by reproducing in the parasites' presence. Hosts of social parasites can therefore develop multiple traits, leading to the evolution of complex defence portfolios of co-dependent traits. Social parasites can respond to these multi-level defences with counter-adaptations, potentially leading to geographical mosaics of coevolution.This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Evolution of pathogen and parasite avoidance behaviours'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Grüter
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Johannes von Müller Weg 6, Mainz 55099, Germany
| | - Evelien Jongepier
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Westfälische Wilhelms University, Hüfferstrasse 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Susanne Foitzik
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Johannes von Müller Weg 6, Mainz 55099, Germany
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Neupert S, DeMilto A, Drijfhout F, Speller S, Adams RM. Host colony integration: Megalomyrmex guest ant parasites maintain peace with their host using weaponry. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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12
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Ješovnik A, Schultz TR. Revision of the fungus-farming ant genus Sericomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae). Zookeys 2017; 670:1-109. [PMID: 28769657 PMCID: PMC5523163 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.670.11839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Sericomyrmex Mayr (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini) is a Neotropical group of fungus-farming ants known for its problematic taxonomy, caused by low morphological variability across the species, vague and old species descriptions, and an outdated and incomplete key published in 1916. Recent molecular studies revealed that Sericomyrmex is the product of a rapid recent radiation, with a divergence date of 4.3 million years ago. Here we present a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the genus Sericomyrmex based on morphology and a recently published molecular phylogeny. We discuss and illustrate morphological characters for Sericomyrmex workers, males, queens, and larvae. We report 18 standard morphological measurements and 5 indices for 529 workers, 50 queens, and 39 males, which we employ in morphometric analyses. The revised genus Sericomyrmex comprises eleven species, including three new species, here described as S. maravalhassp. n., S. radioheadisp. n., and S. saramamasp. n. We also redescribe S. amabilis Wheeler, S. bondari Borgmeier, S. lutzi Wheeler, S. mayri Forel, S. opacus Mayr, S. parvulus Forel, S. saussurei Emery, and S. scrobifer Forel. The number of recognized species (11) is lower than the previously recognized 19 species and 3 subspecies. The following species and subspecies are synonymized: under S. opacus [=S. aztecus Forel syn. n., S. zacapanus Wheeler syn. n., and S. diego Forel syn. n.]; under S. bondari [=S. beniensis Weber syn. n.]; under S. mayri [=S. luederwaldti Santschi syn. n., S. moreirai Santschi syn. n., S. harekulli Weber syn. n., S. harekulli arawakensis Weber syn. n., S. urichi Forel syn. n.]; under S. saussurei [=S. burchelli Forel syn. n., S. impexus Wheeler syn. n., S. urichi maracas Weber syn. n.]; and under S. parvulus [=S. myersi Weber syn. n.]. We provide a key to Sericomyrmex species for the worker caste and information on the geographic distributions of all species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ješovnik
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
- Maryland Center for Systematic Entomology, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ted R. Schultz
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
- Maryland Center for Systematic Entomology, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
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13
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Cristaldo PF, Rodrigues VB, Elliot SL, Araújo AP, DeSouza O. Heterospecific detection of host alarm cues by an inquiline termite species (Blattodea: Isoptera: Termitidae). Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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14
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Peeters C, Adams RMM. Uncoupling Flight and Reproduction in Ants: Evolution of Ergatoid Queens in Two Lineages of Megalomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2016; 16:iew068. [PMID: 27620557 PMCID: PMC5019021 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iew068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Megalomyrmex Forel (Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) consists of 44 species with diverse life history strategies. Most species are predatory and may also tend honeydew-producing insects. A morphologically derived group of species are social parasites that consume the brood and fungus garden within fungus-growing ant nests. The reproductive strategies of Megalomyrmex queens are somewhat aligned with these life-style patterns. Predatory species in the leoninus species group are large in body size and have ergatoid (i.e., permanently wingless) queens whereas the social parasitic species are smaller and typically have winged queens. We examined two ergatoid phenotypes of Megalomyrmex foreli Emery and Megalomyrmex wallacei Mann and compared them to winged species, one a social lestobiotic or "thief ant" parasite (Megalomyrmex mondabora Brandão) and the other a predator (Megalomyrmex modestus Emery). Megalomyrmex foreli colonies have a single queen with an enlarged gaster that is morphologically distinct from workers. Megalomyrmex wallacei colonies have several queens that are similar in body size to workers. Queens in both species showed a simplification of the thorax, but there was a dramatic difference in the number of ovarioles. Megalomyrmex foreli had 60-80 ovarioles compared to eight in M. wallacei and M. mondabora and M. modestus had 22-28. Along with flight loss in queens, there is an obligate shift to dependent colony founding (also called budding or fission) consequently influencing dispersal patterns. These constraints in life history traits may help explain the variation in nesting biology among Megalomyrmex species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Peeters
- Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, UMR CNRS 7618, Sorbonne Universités UPMC, Paris 75005, France
| | - Rachelle M M Adams
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Museum of Biological Diversity, Rm 1500, 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212, USA
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15
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Shik JZ, Gomez EB, Kooij PW, Santos JC, Wcislo WT, Boomsma JJ. Nutrition mediates the expression of cultivar-farmer conflict in a fungus-growing ant. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:10121-6. [PMID: 27551065 PMCID: PMC5018747 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1606128113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Attine ants evolved farming 55-60 My before humans. Although evolutionarily derived leafcutter ants achieved industrial-scale farming, extant species from basal attine genera continue to farm loosely domesticated fungal cultivars capable of pursuing independent reproductive interests. We used feeding experiments with the basal attine Mycocepurus smithii to test whether reproductive allocation conflicts between farmers and cultivars constrain crop yield, possibly explaining why their mutualism has remained limited in scale and productivity. Stoichiometric and geometric framework approaches showed that carbohydrate-rich substrates maximize growth of both edible hyphae and inedible mushrooms, but that modest protein provisioning can suppress mushroom formation. Worker foraging was consistent with maximizing long-term cultivar performance: ant farmers could neither increase carbohydrate provisioning without cultivars allocating the excess toward mushroom production, nor increase protein provisioning without compromising somatic cultivar growth. Our results confirm that phylogenetically basal attine farming has been very successful over evolutionary time, but that unresolved host-symbiont conflict may have precluded these wild-type symbioses from rising to ecological dominance. That status was achieved by the evolutionarily derived leafcutter ants following full domestication of a coevolving cultivar 30-35 Mya after the first attine ants committed to farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Z Shik
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama;
| | - Ernesto B Gomez
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama
| | - Pepijn W Kooij
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Jodrell Laboratory, Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3DS, United Kingdom
| | - Juan C Santos
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602
| | - William T Wcislo
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama
| | - Jacobus J Boomsma
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Ješovnik A, González VL, Schultz TR. Phylogenomics and Divergence Dating of Fungus-Farming Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Genera Sericomyrmex and Apterostigma. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151059. [PMID: 27466804 PMCID: PMC4965065 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungus-farming ("attine") ants are model systems for studies of symbiosis, coevolution, and advanced eusociality. A New World clade of nearly 300 species in 15 genera, all attine ants cultivate fungal symbionts for food. In order to better understand the evolution of ant agriculture, we sequenced, assembled, and analyzed transcriptomes of four different attine ant species in two genera: three species in the higher-attine genus Sericomyrmex and a single lower-attine ant species, Apterostigma megacephala, representing the first genomic data for either genus. These data were combined with published genomes of nine other ant species and the honey bee Apis mellifera for phylogenomic and divergence-dating analyses. The resulting phylogeny confirms relationships inferred in previous studies of fungus-farming ants. Divergence-dating analyses recovered slightly older dates than most prior analyses, estimating that attine ants originated 53.6-66.7 million of years ago, and recovered a very long branch subtending a very recent, rapid radiation of the genus Sericomyrmex. This result is further confirmed by a separate analysis of the three Sericomyrmex species, which reveals that 92.71% of orthologs have 99% - 100% pairwise-identical nucleotide sequences. We searched the transcriptomes for genes of interest, most importantly argininosuccinate synthase and argininosuccinate lyase, which are functional in other ants but which are known to have been lost in seven previously studied attine ant species. Loss of the ability to produce the amino acid arginine has been hypothesized to contribute to the obligate dependence of attine ants upon their cultivated fungi, but the point in fungus-farming ant evolution at which these losses occurred has remained unknown. We did not find these genes in any of the sequenced transcriptomes. Although expected for Sericomyrmex species, the absence of arginine anabolic genes in the lower-attine ant Apterostigma megacephala strongly suggests that the loss coincided with the origin of attine ants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ješovnik
- Entomology Department, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
- Maryland Center for Systematic Entomology, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Vanessa L. González
- Global Genome Initiative, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Ted R. Schultz
- Entomology Department, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
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Liberti J, Sapountzis P, Hansen LH, Sørensen SJ, Adams RMM, Boomsma JJ. Bacterial symbiont sharing in Megalomyrmex social parasites and their fungus-growing ant hosts. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:3151-69. [PMID: 25907143 PMCID: PMC5008137 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial symbionts are important fitness determinants of insects. Some hosts have independently acquired taxonomically related microbes to meet similar challenges, but whether distantly related hosts that live in tight symbiosis can maintain similar microbial communities has not been investigated. Varying degrees of nest sharing between Megalomyrmex social parasites (Solenopsidini) and their fungus-growing ant hosts (Attini) from the genera Cyphomyrmex, Trachymyrmex and Sericomyrmex allowed us to address this question, as both ant lineages rely on the same fungal diet, interact in varying intensities and are distantly related. We used tag-encoded FLX 454 pyrosequencing and diagnostic PCR to map bacterial symbiont diversity across the Megalomyrmex phylogenetic tree, which also contains free-living generalist predators. We show that social parasites and hosts share a subset of bacterial symbionts, primarily consisting of Entomoplasmatales, Bartonellaceae, Acinetobacter, Wolbachia and Pseudonocardia and that Entomoplasmatales and Bartonellaceae can co-infect specifically associated combinations of hosts and social parasites with identical 16S rRNA genotypes. We reconstructed in more detail the population-level infection dynamics for Entomoplasmatales and Bartonellaceae in Megalomyrmex symmetochus guest ants and their Sericomyrmex amabilis hosts. We further assessed the stability of the bacterial communities through a diet manipulation experiment and evaluated possible transmission modes in shared nests such as consumption of the same fungus garden food, eating of host brood by social parasites, trophallaxis and grooming interactions between the ants, or parallel acquisition from the same nest environment. Our results imply that cohabiting ant social parasites and hosts may obtain functional benefits from bacterial symbiont transfer even when they are not closely related.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanito Liberti
- Centre for Social EvolutionDepartment of BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenUniversitetsparken 15DK‐2100CopenhagenDenmark
| | - Panagiotis Sapountzis
- Centre for Social EvolutionDepartment of BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenUniversitetsparken 15DK‐2100CopenhagenDenmark
| | - Lars H. Hansen
- Molecular Microbial Ecology GroupDepartment of BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenUniversitetsparken 15DK‐2100CopenhagenDenmark
- Present address: Environmental Microbial Genomics GroupDepartment of Environmental ScienceAarhus UniversityDK‐4000RoskildeDenmark
| | - Søren J. Sørensen
- Molecular Microbial Ecology GroupDepartment of BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenUniversitetsparken 15DK‐2100CopenhagenDenmark
| | - Rachelle M. M. Adams
- Centre for Social EvolutionDepartment of BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenUniversitetsparken 15DK‐2100CopenhagenDenmark
- Department of EntomologyNational Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian InstitutionWashingtonDC20560USA
| | - Jacobus J. Boomsma
- Centre for Social EvolutionDepartment of BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenUniversitetsparken 15DK‐2100CopenhagenDenmark
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Alkaloid Venom Weaponry of Three Megalomyrmex Thief Ants and the Behavioral Response of Cyphomyrmex costatus Host Ants. J Chem Ecol 2015; 41:373-85. [DOI: 10.1007/s10886-015-0565-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2014] [Revised: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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