DOCSLIB.ORG

Evidence of Predation in Two Species of the Colobopsis Cylindrica Group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Camponotini)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Evidence of Predation in Two Species of the Colobopsis Cylindrica Group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Camponotini) ASIAN MYRMECOLOGY Volume 10, e010011, 2018 ISSN 1985-1944 | eISSN: 2462-2362 © Herbert Zettel, Alice Laciny, Weeyawat Jaitrong, DOI: 10.20362/am.010011 Syaukani Syaukani, Alexey Kopchinskiy and Irina S. Druzhinina Evidence of predation in two species of the Colobopsis cylindrica group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Camponotini) Herbert Zettel1, Alice Laciny1, 5*, Weeyawat Jaitrong2, Syaukani Syaukani3, Alexey Kopchinskiy4 and Irina S. Druzhinina4 12nd Zoological Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria. 2Thailand Natural History Museum, National Science Museum, Technopolis, Khlong 5, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120 Thailand. 3Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Syiah Kuala University, Darussalam 23111, Banda Aceh, Indonesia. 4Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria. 5Department of Theoretical Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria. *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT. The complex ecology and nutrition of “exploding” ants of the Colobopsis cylindrica group (COCY) is still poorly understood. Hitherto, this group of ants was thought to feed mainly on phylloplane biofilms with only scarce observations of carnivorous behaviour. This study focusses on observations and behavioural experiments conducted on Colobopsis badia and Colobopsis leonardi, two species native to Thailand. In experiments with C. leonardi, we investigated recognition and acceptance of diverse arthropod prey, as well as its mode of transport into the nest. In addition, preliminary data on C. badia were collected. We present the first recorded instances of predation for these species and discuss our findings in the light of previously published hypotheses on COCY nutrition and behaviour. Keywords: carnivory, exploding ants, nutrition, Southeast Asia, Thailand INTRODUCTION cies points to plant exudates or microbes from the phylloplane biofilm as their primary source The “exploding” ants of the Colobopsis cylin- of nitrogen (Davidson et al. 2016). During ex- drica group (COCY) are particularly known for tensive observations at the Kuala Belalong Field their self-sacrificing defensive behaviour (auto- Studies Centre (KBFSC) in Brunei Darussalam, thysis), but have also been the object of several workers have never been observed to hunt or ecological studies (e.g., Cook 2008, Davidson et feed on animal carcasses. However, fragments al. 2007, 2009, 2016; Laciny et al. 2018). How- of unidentified arthropod exoskeletons have ever, the nutrition of imagines and larvae still been found within the buccal pellets of COCY remains an unanswered question. Isotopic evi- workers (Davidson et al. 2016). dence from six examined Bornean COCY spe- 2 Herbert Zettel, Alice Laciny, Weeyawat Jaitrong, Syaukani Syaukani, Alexey Kopchinskiy & Irina S. Druzhinina In feeding experiments carried out at niques of transport: Yamamoto et al. (2009) com- the same location between 2015 and 2017, two pared different modes of prey transport between COCY species, Colobopsis explodens, Laciny & arboreal and ground-nesting ants of Southeast Zettel 2018, and an undescribed species related Asia. Among the studied species was “Colobop- to Colobopsis leonardi Emery, 1889, accepted sis sp. nr. leonardi” – presumably a member of various offered food items (fish, fruit, biscuit the COCY group. The study found that this spe- crumbs), but only transported small dead insects cies, as well as the vast majority of other arboreal and arthropod body parts. In experimental set- species, divided large prey into smaller pieces tings, no instance of feeding on spores or hyphae that were then carried into the nest by individual of filamentous fungi (such as molds) was ob- workers without cooperation. In contrast, ground- served, but a suspension of yeasts was accepted nesting ants tended towards cooperative retrieval (M. Rahimi, unpublished data). However, on of prey. Furthermore, the mode of prey transport their foraging grounds, workers were frequently by individual ants is influenced by the size and seen plucking mosses, lichens and fungi from weight of the transported item: Small items are the surface of bark or leaves (“grazing”), which preferentially lifted while the ant is facing for- has previously been hypothesized to contribute to ward; heavy or large items are dragged while the their nutrition (Laciny et al. 2018, compare Da- ant walks backwards (Sudd 1960; see Czaczkes vidson et al. 2007, 2016). & Ratnieks 2013 for a review). We aimed to as- It is well known that ant larvae require sess whether these correlations are also applica- protein-rich nutrition during their development ble to the examined COCY species. (e.g., Hölldobler & Wilson 1990, Dussutour Finally, we attempted to investigate & Simpson 2009). How these needs are met in the use of different nest entrances for bringing larvae of the COCY group is hitherto unknown. prey into the nest. COCY ants are polydomous However, several reports of arthropod carcasses with large colonies containing many thousands being accepted and transported into the nest in- of individuals (Federle et al. 1998, Laciny et al. dicate that COCY larvae may be fed with animal 2017, Laciny et al. 2018). Especially members of protein: Hashimoto et al. (1997) reported that the C. saundersi complex willingly and rapidly “Camponotus saundersi Emery, 1889” (species colonize artificial nests and use them to rear their identity unconfirmed) accepted freshly killed brood (Davidson et al. 2009, Laciny et al. 2017, mosquitoes in an experimental setting on Borneo, Laciny et al. 2018). This suggests a form of nest and Yamamoto et al. (2009) reported that Colob- partitioning also corroborated by the presence of opsis sp. nr. leonardi in Indonesia fed on offered carton partitions in detached nest fragments (A. mealworms. Another author (W. Jaitrong, unpub- Kopchinskiy, I. Druzhinina, unpublished data). lished data) has observed that Colobopsis leon- This may result in the allocation of protein-rich ardi, a common COCY species in Thailand, car- animal prey to specific parts of the nest. ries insect prey. Moreover, a mermithid infection Molecular and morphological analyses of adult ants of Colobopsis sp. nrSA in Brunei (Cook 2008, Laciny et al. 2018, Zettel et al. un- suggests that earthworms or insects were fed to published data) have identified at least three dis- the ants’ larvae: Mermithid nematodes are known tinct subclades native to Southeast Asia: The C. to be transmitted when intermediate hosts (oligo- saundersi complex, the C. leonardi complex, and chaetes or aquatic insects) containing the nema- the eponymous C. cylindrica complex. In this pa- todes’ infective larval stages are fed to the host per, we describe observations and standardized ants’ larvae (Kaiser 1986, Poinar 2012, Laciny et experiments on selected colonies of two COCY al. 2017). These findings suggest that contrary to species, Colobopsis leonardi from the C. leon- previous hypotheses, these ants’ nutrition is not ardi complex and Colobopsis badia from the C. solely based on plants and microorganisms of the saundersi complex, in the Khao Chong Botanical phylloplane biofilm but also includes some form Garden in southern Thailand. of animal predation. We aimed to assess prey recognition and When animal prey is carried into the acceptance by offering various living and dead nest, ants are known to employ different tech- arthropods and oligochaetes. In addition, we re- Predation in the Colobopsis cylindrica group 3 corded the modes of transport employed by ants trances termed according to approximate cardinal dealing with prey items of different species and direction). Entrance W consisted of a single hole, sizes, as well as differential utilization of avail- entrances E and N of two holes in close vicinity able nest entrances. We present the first evidence (ca. 3 and 7 cm apart, respectively); the round en- of insect predation and acceptance of animal prey trance holes had a diameter of ca 3–5 mm. A trail for the studied species and interpret our results between entrances E and W was used by forag- within the framework of previous studies on the ing workers continuously and in high frequency enigmatic nutrition of the COCY group. in both directions, constituting the majority of the observed worker activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS 2.2. Prey recognition and entrance selection First, various arthropods, arthropod body parts, 1. Specimens, depositories and identification and earthworms were offered at the trail of C. leonardi (Table 1). During these experiments, it Studies were carried out on June 6–7, 2016 in the was observed that the entrance the prey was trans- Khao Chong Botanical Garden, Trang Province, ported to was strongly biased towards entrance E. southern Thailand. Both colonies were found For the following experiments concerning the se- at the sides of a trail leading from a parking lection of entrances, the branch section between area to the Ton Pliw Waterfall (N 07°32’34’’ E entrances E and W was divided into five sections 99°47’33”, ca. 150 m a.s.l.). of ca. 75 cm length (1–5, numbering starting at Colobopsis leonardi and Colobopsis ba- entrance E). Single prey items were offered by dia were identified by comparison with the types alternating between sections, starting at one and deposited in the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale ending at five. Four species of prey (Coptotermes Giacomo
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Diversity and Organization of the Ground Foraging Ant Faunas of Forest, Grassland and Tree Crops in Papua New Guinea
    - - -- Aust. J. Zool., 1975, 23, 71-89 Diversity and Organization of the Ground Foraging Ant Faunas of Forest, Grassland and Tree Crops in Papua New Guinea P. M. Room Department of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries, Papua New Guinea; present address: Cotton Research Unit, CSIRO, P.M.B. Myallvale Mail Run, Narrabri, N.S.W. 2390. Abstract Thirty samples of ants were taken in each of seven habitats: primary forest, rubber plantation, coffee plantation, oilpalm plantation, kunai grassland, eucalypt savannah and urban grassland. Sixty samples were taken in cocoa plantations. A total of 156 species was taken, and the frequency of occurrence of each in each habitat is given. Eight stenoecious species are suggested as habitat indicators. Habitats fell into a series according to the similarity of their ant faunas: forest, rubber and coffee, cocoa and oilpalm, kunai and savannah, urban. This series represents an artificial, discontinuous succession from a complex stable ecosystem to a simple unstable one. Availability of species suitably preadapted to occupy habitats did not appear to limit species richness. Habitat heterogeneity and stability as affected by human interference did seem to account for inter-habitat variability in species richness. Species diversity was compared between habitats using four indices: Fisher et al.; Margalef; Shannon; Brillouin. Correlation of diversity index with habitat hetero- geneity plus stability was good for the first two, moderate for Shannon, and poor for Brillouin. Greatest diversity was found in rubber, the penultimate in the series of habitats according to hetero- geneity plus stability ('maturity'). Equitability exceeded the presumed maximum in rubber, and was close to the maximum in all habitats.
    [Show full text]
  • Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Along an Elevational Gradient at Eungella in the Clarke Range, Central Queensland Coast, Australia
    RAINFOREST ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) ALONG AN ELEVATIONAL GRADIENT AT EUNGELLA IN THE CLARKE RANGE, CENTRAL QUEENSLAND COAST, AUSTRALIA BURWELL, C. J.1,2 & NAKAMURA, A.1,3 Here we provide a faunistic overview of the rainforest ant fauna of the Eungella region, located in the southern part of the Clarke Range in the Central Queensland Coast, Australia, based on systematic surveys spanning an elevational gradient from 200 to 1200 m asl. Ants were collected from a total of 34 sites located within bands of elevation of approximately 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000 and 1200 m asl. Surveys were conducted in March 2013 (20 sites), November 2013 and March–April 2014 (24 sites each), and ants were sampled using five methods: pitfall traps, leaf litter extracts, Malaise traps, spray- ing tree trunks with pyrethroid insecticide, and timed bouts of hand collecting during the day. In total we recorded 142 ant species (described species and morphospecies) from our systematic sampling and observed an additional species, the green tree ant Oecophylla smaragdina, at the lowest eleva- tions but not on our survey sites. With the caveat of less sampling intensity at the lowest and highest elevations, species richness peaked at 600 m asl (89 species), declined monotonically with increasing and decreasing elevation, and was lowest at 1200 m asl (33 spp.). Ant species composition progres- sively changed with increasing elevation, but there appeared to be two gradients of change, one from 200–600 m asl and another from 800 to 1200 m asl. Differences between the lowland and upland faunas may be driven in part by a greater representation of tropical and arboreal-nesting sp ecies in the lowlands and a greater representation of subtropical species in the highlands.
    [Show full text]
  • Mixed Deciduous Forest, Teak Plantation and Fruit Orchard
    Tropical Natural History 10(1): 37-51, April 2010 ©2010 by Chulalongkorn University Ant Species Diversity and Community Composition in Three Different Habitats: Mixed Deciduous Forest, Teak Plantation and Fruit Orchard PITINAN TORCHOTE1, DUANGKHAE SITTHICHAROENCHAI2* AND CHATCHAWAN CHAISUEKUL2 1 Program in Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, THAILAND 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, THAILAND * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Received: 16 February 2009; Accepted: 10 August 2009 ABSTRACT.– The species diversity of ants in three different land use types: a mixed deciduous forest, and a derived commercial teak plantation and a durian orchard, were studied to determine and compare the ant species diversity in these areas. Five sampling methods: handling capture over constant time, sugar-protein bait trap, pitfall trap, leaf litter sifting and soil sifting, were conducted each month from September 2007 to September 2008, inclusive. The species richness of ants in the area was 62 identified species and 67 morpho- species, belonging to 49 genera in nine subfamilies. The Shannon-Wiener’s species diversity index indicated that the diversity was the highest in the mixed deciduous forest (2.387), followed by the durian orchard (1.997) and lastly the teak plantation (1.463). The β-diversity, using Sorensen’s similarity coefficient to determine the similarity in community composition, was highest between the forest and the teak plantation at 65.5%, and then between the teak plantation and the durian orchard at 45.5%, and between the forest and the durian orchard at 39.7%, indicating that both ant species diversity and community composition were distinctly varied in these three sites which may relate to their different land use types.
    [Show full text]
  • Ants in the City, a Preliminary Checklist of Formicidae (Hymenoptera) in Macau, One of the Most Heavily Urbanized Regions of the World
    ASIAN MYRMECOLOGY Volume 9, e009014, 2017 ISSN 1985-1944 | eISSN: 2462-2362 © Chi-Man Leong, Shiuh-Feng Shiao DOI: 10.20362/am.009014 and Benoit Guénard Ants in the city, a preliminary checklist of Formicidae (Hymenoptera) in Macau, one of the most heavily urbanized regions of the world Chi-Man Leong1, Shiuh-Feng Shiao1 and Benoit Guénard2* 1National Taiwan University, Department of Entomology, No.1, Sec.4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, Taiwan 2University of Hong Kong, School of Biological Sciences, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT. Macau is a small territory in South East China and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. Previous studies on insect groups have shown that a relatively diverse, yet specific, fauna could still survive in this region. However, to this point, studies on the myrmecofauna of Macau are scarce and to date no species checklist exists. Here, we present the first checklist of Macanese ant species by combining results from recent ant surveys using hand- collections and Winkler extractors with published records. During the surveys, 82 species and morphospecies belonging to 37 genera and 8 subfamilies have been collected, with 37 species representing new records for Macau, including an interesting new record of an undescribed Leptanilla species, the second record of the Leptanillinae subfamily for South East China. To date, Macanese ants comprise 105 species/morphospecies and 8 subspecies, after the removal of dubious records present in the literature (though some misidentifications may remain). While still likely incomplete, these results represent the most comprehensive list of ants for Macau, and a baseline for future research on ant diversity in heavily urbanized environments and for understanding the potential consequences of urbanization on native and non-native diversity in Asia.
    [Show full text]
  • By J. Bequaert
    1V.-ANTS IN THEIR DIVERSE RELATIOSS TO THE PLANT WORLD BY J. BEQUAERT The following contribution is an attempt to summarize what is known at present of the widely varied and often intricate relations which exist in nature between ants and vegetation. It has primarily grown out of an examination of certain so-called ‘‘ myrmecophytes,” or ant-plants, which I frequently came across during my travels in the Belgian Congo in quest of zoological and botanical specimens. Prof. Wheeler’s study of the feeding habits of the larva of certain plant-inhabiting ants col- lected by Messrs. H. Lang and J. P. Chapin and myself in the Congo, and Prof. I. W. Bailey’s investigation of the anatomy of myrmecophytes show that the whole subject of the mutual adaptations of plants and ants is in need of a thorough revision. It thus seemed appropriate that the present opportunity be used to bring together the many isolated and scattered observations which have been made on the interrelations of these organisms. Indeed, the problem of myrmecophytism is dominated by the feeding habits of the ants and their young and, until these are perfectly understood, we can scarcely hope to grasp the true ecological meaning and the probable origin of the extreme cases of apparent or true symbiosis between certain ants and certain species of plants. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance to inquire carefully into the various ways in which ants are wont to benefit by the vegetation. Although much time has been spent in consulting botanical and entomological papers for information bearing on the subject, undoubted- ly a number of interesting observations have escaped my notice.
    [Show full text]
  • Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae)
    Molecular Phylogenetics and Taxonomic Revision of Ponerine Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae) Item Type text; Electronic Dissertation Authors Schmidt, Chris Alan Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 10/10/2021 23:29:52 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/194663 1 MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND TAXONOMIC REVISION OF PONERINE ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE: PONERINAE) by Chris A. Schmidt _____________________ A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the GRADUATE INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM IN INSECT SCIENCE In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2009 2 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Dissertation Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by Chris A. Schmidt entitled Molecular Phylogenetics and Taxonomic Revision of Ponerine Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae) and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy _______________________________________________________________________ Date: 4/3/09 David Maddison _______________________________________________________________________ Date: 4/3/09 Judie Bronstein
    [Show full text]
  • Response of Ants to Disturbance Gradients in and Around Bangalore, India
    SAVITHA, BARVE & DAVIDAR 235 Tropical Ecology 49 (2): 235-243, 2008 ISSN 0564-3295 © International Society for Tropical Ecology www.tropecol.com Response of ants to disturbance gradients in and around Bangalore, India SAVITHA S. 1,2,* , NARAYANI BARVE 2 & PRIYA DAVIDAR 1 1Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University, Kalapet, Pondicherry 605014, India Abstract: There is an emphasis the world over to build back biodiversity even in human- dominated landscapes, such as cityscapes. Birds and butterflies that are highly vagile have been studied extensively, but less mobile taxa such as ants have been ignored, for this reason we chose them as the study taxa for this work. The distribution and abundance of ant species across a disturbance gradient in and around Bangalore city was studied. Five sites were sampled and these represented a gradient of urban land use that ranged from highly disturbed to comparatively less disturbed areas. A total of 51 species of ants belonging to seven subfamilies were recorded. Ant species richness and abundance was higher in the disturbed site. Species richness is significantly correlated with litter and canopy cover. Common species increased with disturbance. Disturbed sites supported rare species, suggesting that these habitats located in urban settings also require protection. The management implications of the results are discussed. Resumen: Se ha puesto mucho énfasis en todo el mundo en la reconstrucción de la biodiversidad, incluso en paisajes antrópicos, por ejemplo los urbanos. Las aves y las mariposas, que son muy vágiles, han sido estudiados ampliamente, pero taxa menos móviles como las hormigas han sido ignorados; por esta razón éstas fueron seleccionadas como el taxón de estudio para este trabajo.
    [Show full text]
  • Of Sri Lanka: a Taxonomic Research Summary and Updated Checklist
    ZooKeys 967: 1–142 (2020) A peer-reviewed open-access journal doi: 10.3897/zookeys.967.54432 CHECKLIST https://zookeys.pensoft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity research The Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Sri Lanka: a taxonomic research summary and updated checklist Ratnayake Kaluarachchige Sriyani Dias1, Benoit Guénard2, Shahid Ali Akbar3, Evan P. Economo4, Warnakulasuriyage Sudesh Udayakantha1, Aijaz Ahmad Wachkoo5 1 Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka 2 School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China3 Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 191132, India 4 Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan 5 Department of Zoology, Government Degree College, Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, India Corresponding author: Aijaz Ahmad Wachkoo ([email protected]) Academic editor: Marek Borowiec | Received 18 May 2020 | Accepted 16 July 2020 | Published 14 September 2020 http://zoobank.org/61FBCC3D-10F3-496E-B26E-2483F5A508CD Citation: Dias RKS, Guénard B, Akbar SA, Economo EP, Udayakantha WS, Wachkoo AA (2020) The Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Sri Lanka: a taxonomic research summary and updated checklist. ZooKeys 967: 1–142. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.967.54432 Abstract An updated checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Sri Lanka is presented. These include representatives of eleven of the 17 known extant subfamilies with 341 valid ant species in 79 genera. Lio- ponera longitarsus Mayr, 1879 is reported as a new species country record for Sri Lanka. Notes about type localities, depositories, and relevant references to each species record are given.
    [Show full text]
  • The East Asian Species of the Ant Genus Acropyga Roger, 1862
    The JapaneseSocietyJapanese Society ofofSoil Soil Zoology Edaphelogia, Ne,70: 21-32, August 28, 2002 21 TheEast Asian Species of the Ant Genus Acropyga Roger, 1862(Hymenoptera:Formicidae:Formicinae) Mamoru TERAyAMAL, John R. FELLowEs' and Shanyi ZHou' i2-12-29, IVdka-cho,lwatsscki,Saitama,339-O054 Jbpan iKodoorie FZirm and Botanic Ganten, Lam Kdm Roaa 7kii Po, New ferritories, Hong Kbng, China 'Department Nb'nnat Guangxi, 541004 China cV'Biotosy, Guangxi University,Guilin, Received: 14 April 2002; Accepted: 4 Ju]y 2oo2 Abstract The East Asian species of the ant genus Acropyga RoGER, 1g62, are revised, Ten species are recognized of which three are new to science: one species belengs to the subgenus Acropyga, six species te Rhizomynna, and three species to Atqpodon. Acrqpyga (Rhizomyrma) guangxiensis sp. nov. is characterized by the mandible with four teeth, the distinctly incised metanotal dorsum, and the small eye consisting of single facet. Acropyga (Rhizomyrma) septemstruma sp. nov. is characterized by thc antenna with seven articles, the absence of eyes, and the small body size (tota1 length 1 ,3 mm), Acmpyga (Rhizomytwna) yunnanensis sp. nov. most resemb:es A. sttangxiensis sp. nov., but is separated from the latter by the very weakly incised metanotal dorsum and the eye consisting of four facets. Acropyga acutiventris RoGER is recorded from China for the first time, A key to the East Asian species is presented. Key words: Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Aerqpryga, diagnostic characters Recently, we have examined 125 specimens, including Introduction the types, of the Acropyga ants from various r.egions of ･East The genus Ac,epyga RoGER, 1862, is represented by 58 Asia.
    [Show full text]
  • List of Indian Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Himender Bharti
    List of Indian Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Himender Bharti Department of Zoology, Punjabi University, Patiala, India - 147002. (email: [email protected]/[email protected]) (www.antdiversityindia.com) Abstract Ants of India are enlisted herewith. This has been carried due to major changes in terms of synonymies, addition of new taxa, recent shufflings etc. Currently, Indian ants are represented by 652 valid species/subspecies falling under 87 genera grouped into 12 subfamilies. Keywords: Ants, India, Hymenoptera, Formicidae. Introduction The following 652 valid species/subspecies of myrmecology. This species list is based upon the ants are known to occur in India. Since Bingham’s effort of many ant collectors as well as Fauna of 1903, ant taxonomy has undergone major myrmecologists who have published on the taxonomy changes in terms of synonymies, discovery of new of Indian ants and from inputs provided by taxa, shuffling of taxa etc. This has lead to chaotic myrmecologists from other parts of world. However, state of affairs in Indian scenario, many lists appeared the other running/dynamic list continues to appear on web without looking into voluminous literature on http://www.antweb.org/india.jsp, which is which has surfaced in last many years and currently periodically updated and contains information about the pace at which new publications are appearing in new/unconfirmed taxa, still to be published or verified. Subfamily Genus Species and subspecies Aenictinae Aenictus 28 Amblyoponinae Amblyopone 3 Myopopone
    [Show full text]
  • Evidence of Predation in Two Species of the Colobopsis Cylindrica Group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Camponotini)
    ASIAN MYRMECOLOGY Volume 10, e010011, 2018 ISSN 1985-1944 | eISSN: 2462-2362 © Herbert Zettel, Alice Laciny, Weeyawat Jaitrong, DOI: 10.20362/am.010011 Syaukani Syaukani, Alexey Kopchinskiy and Irina S. Druzhinina Evidence of predation in two species of the Colobopsis cylindrica group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Camponotini) Herbert Zettel1, Alice Laciny1, 5*, Weeyawat Jaitrong2, Syaukani Syaukani3, Alexey Kopchinskiy4 and Irina S. Druzhinina4 12nd Zoological Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria. 2Thailand Natural History Museum, National Science Museum, Technopolis, Khlong 5, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120 Thailand. 3Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Syiah Kuala University, Darussalam 23111, Banda Aceh, Indonesia. 4Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria. 5Department of Theoretical Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria. *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT. The complex ecology and nutrition of “exploding” ants of the Colobopsis cylindrica group (COCY) is still poorly understood. Hitherto, this group of ants was thought to feed mainly on phylloplane biofilms with only scarce observations of carnivorous behaviour. This study focusses on observations and behavioural experiments conducted on Colobopsis badia and Colobopsis leonardi, two species native to Thailand. In experiments with C. leonardi, we investigated recognition and acceptance of diverse arthropod prey, as well as its mode of transport into the nest. In addition, preliminary data on C. badia were collected. We present the first recorded instances of predation for these species and discuss our findings in the light of previously published hypotheses on COCY nutrition and behaviour.
    [Show full text]
  • Check List of the Ants of Oceania
    CHECK LIST OF THE ANTS OF OCEANIA By WILLIAM MORTON WHEELER BERNICE P. BISHOP MUSEUM OCCASIONAI. PAPERS VOLUME XI, NUMBER 11 HONOLULU, HAWAII PUBLISHED BY THE MUSEUM 1935 CHECK LIST OF THE ANTS OF OCEANIA By \Vn,LIAM MORTON WHEELER INTRODUCTION Oceania, as delimited for the purposes of the following check list, covers, in addition to the groups of small central Pacific islands, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon and Santa Cruz Islands, ew Caledonia, Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands and New Zealand, and in the eastern Pacific the Galapagos Archipelago, Cocos Island, and the small islands off the coast of Mexico and southern Califor­ nia. New Zealand, notwithstanding its zoogeographical affinities with Australia, is included because of the meagerness and oceanic character of its ant fauna. The other islands mentioned are included because of the interest, both positive and negative, of their faunas in connection with the geographical diffusion of the various species, subspecies, and varieties. All the subfamilies of the Formicidae are represented in Oceania with the exception of the Dorylinae and Leptanillinae. The whole fauna, comprising so far as known 560 forms (339 species, 108 sub­ species, and 113 varieties), may be assigned to the following four zoogeographical categories: 1. \Vide-ranging, or pantropical species of Indian, Malagasy, or Indonesian origin. 2. Wide-ranging paleotropical species, which have not yet suc­ ceeded in establishing themselves in the neotropical region. 3. A considerable number of interesting indigenous or precinc­ tive forms, also with Old \Vorld affinities, but confined to particular island groups or islands. 4. A small number of neotropical forms confined to the islands off the coast of South America and Central America, because they have not been able to cross the broad belt of open water to the westward.
    [Show full text]