Where Fossils Dare and Males Matter: Combined Morphological
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Hymenoptera, Formicidae)
Belg. J. Zool. - Volume 123 (1993) - issue 2 - pages 159-163 - Brussels 1993 Manuscript received on 25 June 1993 NOTES ON THE ABERRANT VENOM GLAND MORPHOLOGY OF SOME AUSTRALIAN DOLICHODERINE AND MYRMICINE ANTS (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE) by JOHAN BILLEN 1 and ROBERT W. TAYLOR 2 1 Zoological Institute, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium 2 Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, GPO Box 1700, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia SUMMARY Two Australian species of Dolichoderus Lund, and one of Leptomyrmex Mayr (both sub family Dolichoderinae), have venom glands with two long, slender secretory fil aments. In this regard they resemble previously analysed ants of the subfamily Myrmicinae, rather tban other dolichoderines. Alternatively, four Meranoplus Smith species (subfamily Myrmicinae) bave short, knob-like filaments, like tbose of previously reported dolicboderines, and unlike otber myrmicines. Features of venom gland morpbology are thus Jess constant or diagnostically reliable for these subfamilies than was previously supposed. Keywords : venom gland, morphology, Dolichoderus, Leptomyrmex, Meranoplus. INTRODUCTION The ant subfamily Dolichoderinae, with its apparent sister-group the Aneuretinae (TRANŒLLO and JAYASURIYA, 1981), is characterized by the distinctive and peculiar configuration of its abdominal exocrine glandular system (BILLEN, 1986). These ants alone have a Pavan's gland, and their pygidial glands are so hypertrophied as to have been previously regarded as separate 'anal glands', which were thought unjquely to characterize them. T he venom gland of these ants has also been considered urnque in possessing two very short knob-bke secretory filaments, whjch is considered to characterize the Dolichoderinae (HôLLDOBLER and WILSON, 1990). Morphological descriptions of the dolichoderine venom gland are available for representatives of the genera Azteca, Bothriomyrmex, Dolichoderus, Iridomyr mex, Liometopum and Tapinoma (PAVAN, 1955; PA VAN and RoNCHETTI, 1955 ; BLUM and HERMANN, 1978b ; BILLEN, 1986). -
Immediate Impacts of Invasion by Wasmannia Auropunctata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on Native Litter Ant Fauna in a New Caledonian Rainforest
Austral Ecology (2003) 28, 204–209 Immediate impacts of invasion by Wasmannia auropunctata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on native litter ant fauna in a New Caledonian rainforest J. LE BRETON,1,2* J. CHAZEAU1 AND H. JOURDAN1,2 1Laboratoire de Zoologie Appliquée, Centre IRD de Nouméa, B.P. A5, 98948 Nouméa CEDEX, Nouvelle-Calédonie (Email: [email protected]) and 2Laboratoire d’Ecologie Terrestre, Université Toulouse III, Toulouse, France Abstract For the last 30 years, Wasmannia auropunctata (the little fire ant) has spread throughout the Pacific and represents a severe threat to fragile island habitats. This invader has often been described as a disturbance specialist. Here we present data on its spread in a dense native rainforest in New Caledonia. We monitored by pitfall trapping the litter ant fauna along an invasive gradient from the edge to the inner forest in July 1999 and March 2000. When W. auropunctata was present, the abundance and richness of native ants drops dramatically. In invaded plots, W. auropunctata represented more than 92% of all trapped ant fauna. Among the 23 native species described, only four cryptic species survived. Wasmannia auropunctata appears to be a highly competitive ant that dominates the litter by eliminating native ants. Mechanisms involved in this invasive success may include predation as well as competitive interactions (exploitation and interference). The invasive success of W. auropunctata is similar to that of other tramp ants and reinforces the idea of common evolutionary traits leading to higher competitiveness in a new environment. Key words: ant diversity, biological invasion, New Caledonia, Wasmannia auropunctata. INTRODUCTION This small myrmicine, recorded for the first time in New Caledonia in 1972 (Fabres & Brown 1978), has In the Pacific area, New Caledonia is recognized as a now invaded a wide array of habitats on the main unique biodiversity hot spot (Myers et al. -
The Functions and Evolution of Social Fluid Exchange in Ant Colonies (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Marie-Pierre Meurville & Adria C
ISSN 1997-3500 Myrmecological News myrmecologicalnews.org Myrmecol. News 31: 1-30 doi: 10.25849/myrmecol.news_031:001 13 January 2021 Review Article Trophallaxis: the functions and evolution of social fluid exchange in ant colonies (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Marie-Pierre Meurville & Adria C. LeBoeuf Abstract Trophallaxis is a complex social fluid exchange emblematic of social insects and of ants in particular. Trophallaxis behaviors are present in approximately half of all ant genera, distributed over 11 subfamilies. Across biological life, intra- and inter-species exchanged fluids tend to occur in only the most fitness-relevant behavioral contexts, typically transmitting endogenously produced molecules adapted to exert influence on the receiver’s physiology or behavior. Despite this, many aspects of trophallaxis remain poorly understood, such as the prevalence of the different forms of trophallaxis, the components transmitted, their roles in colony physiology and how these behaviors have evolved. With this review, we define the forms of trophallaxis observed in ants and bring together current knowledge on the mechanics of trophallaxis, the contents of the fluids transmitted, the contexts in which trophallaxis occurs and the roles these behaviors play in colony life. We identify six contexts where trophallaxis occurs: nourishment, short- and long-term decision making, immune defense, social maintenance, aggression, and inoculation and maintenance of the gut microbiota. Though many ideas have been put forth on the evolution of trophallaxis, our analyses support the idea that stomodeal trophallaxis has become a fixed aspect of colony life primarily in species that drink liquid food and, further, that the adoption of this behavior was key for some lineages in establishing ecological dominance. -
James K. Wetterer
James K. Wetterer Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL 33458 Phone: (561) 799-8648; FAX: (561) 799-8602; e-mail: [email protected] EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Seattle, WA, 9/83 - 8/88 Ph.D., Zoology: Ecology and Evolution; Advisor: Gordon H. Orians. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, East Lansing, MI, 9/81 - 9/83 M.S., Zoology: Ecology; Advisors: Earl E. Werner and Donald J. Hall. CORNELL UNIVERSITY, Ithaca, NY, 9/76 - 5/79 A.B., Biology: Ecology and Systematics. UNIVERSITÉ DE PARIS III, France, 1/78 - 5/78 Semester abroad: courses in theater, literature, and history of art. WORK EXPERIENCE FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY, Wilkes Honors College 8/04 - present: Professor 7/98 - 7/04: Associate Professor Teaching: Biodiversity, Principles of Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, Human Ecology, Environmental Studies, Tropical Ecology, Field Biology, Life Science, and Scientific Writing 9/03 - 1/04 & 5/04 - 8/04: Fulbright Scholar; Ants of Trinidad and Tobago COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, Department of Earth and Environmental Science 7/96 - 6/98: Assistant Professor Teaching: Community Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, and Tropical Ecology WHEATON COLLEGE, Department of Biology 8/94 - 6/96: Visiting Assistant Professor Teaching: General Ecology and Introductory Biology HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Museum of Comparative Zoology 8/91- 6/94: Post-doctoral Fellow; Behavior, ecology, and evolution of fungus-growing ants Advisors: Edward O. Wilson, Naomi Pierce, and Richard Lewontin 9/95 - 1/96: Teaching: Ethology PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 7/89 - 7/91: Research Associate; Ecology and evolution of leaf-cutting ants Advisor: Stephen Hubbell 1/91 - 5/91: Teaching: Tropical Ecology, Introduction to the Scientific Method VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, Department of Psychology 9/88 - 7/89: Post-doctoral Fellow; Visual psychophysics of fish and horseshoe crabs Advisor: Maureen K. -
1 KEY to the DESERT ANTS of CALIFORNIA. James Des Lauriers
KEY TO THE DESERT ANTS OF CALIFORNIA. James des Lauriers Dept Biology, Chaffey College, Alta Loma, CA [email protected] 15 Apr 2011 Snelling and George (1979) surveyed the Mojave and Colorado Deserts including the southern ends of the Owen’s Valley and Death Valley. They excluded the Pinyon/Juniper woodlands and higher elevation plant communities. I have included the same geographical region but also the ants that occur at higher elevations in the desert mountains including the Chuckwalla, Granites, Providence, New York and Clark ranges. Snelling, R and C. George, 1979. The Taxonomy, Distribution and Ecology of California Desert Ants. Report to Calif. Desert Plan Program. Bureau of Land Mgmt. Their keys are substantially modified in the light of more recent literature. Some of the keys include species whose ranges are not known to extend into the deserts. Names of species known to occur in the Mojave or Colorado deserts are colored red. I would appreciate being informed if you find errors or can suggest changes or additions. Key to the Subfamilies. WORKERS AND FEMALES. 1a. Petiole two-segmented. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..2 b. Petiole one-segmented. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………..4 2a. Frontal carinae narrow, not expanded laterally, antennal sockets fully exposed in frontal view. ……………………………….3 b. Frontal carinae expanded laterally, antennal sockets partially or fully covered in frontal view. …………… Myrmicinae, p 4 3a. Eye very large and covering much of side of head, consisting of hundreds of ommatidia; thorax of female with flight sclerites. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…. Pseudomyrmecinae, p 2 b. Eye absent or vestigial and consist of a single ommatidium; thorax of female without flight sclerites. -
Queen Ant Wildlife Trade Operation Proposal
Queen Ant Wildlife Trade Operation Proposal 1.1 & 1.2 Scientific and Common Names This proposal outlines the harvest of live queen ant species included in Attachment A. The list includes an annual quota that will not be exceeded. 1.3 Location of harvest The location of harvest will be as follows: ● 20 acres near Panton Hill 3759, Victoria; ● 20 acres near Macs Cove 3723, Victoria. 1.4 Description of what is being harvested The harvest is of newly mated live adult queen ants of differing species outlined in Attachment A. The applicant will seek further approval for the collection of any ant species not listed within Attachment A if the need arises. We will also maintain an ant collection catalogue for identification purposes of all queen ants collected and that are to be exported. The identification of all queen ant specimens will be primarily done by the applicant in conjunction with a qualified professional in the field of Invertebrate Ecology and Conservation Biology capable of identifying ant species, if clarification is required. The applicant has also been identifying ants from within our collection areas for several years and by using online tools such as antweb.org and other published keys, such as K.Ogata & R.W.Taylor’s keys to Myrmecia, A.McArthur’s keys to Camponotus, and A.Lucky & P.S.Ward’s keys to Leptomyrmex as an example, has become exceptional at identifying the ants from our region. 1.5 Is the species protected under State or Federal legislation? Victoria does not protect non-listed invertebrates and therefore these species are unprotected under Victorian legislation. -
Arthropods of Elm Fork Preserve
Arthropods of Elm Fork Preserve Arthropods are characterized by having jointed limbs and exoskeletons. They include a diverse assortment of creatures: Insects, spiders, crustaceans (crayfish, crabs, pill bugs), centipedes and millipedes among others. Column Headings Scientific Name: The phenomenal diversity of arthropods, creates numerous difficulties in the determination of species. Positive identification is often achieved only by specialists using obscure monographs to ‘key out’ a species by examining microscopic differences in anatomy. For our purposes in this survey of the fauna, classification at a lower level of resolution still yields valuable information. For instance, knowing that ant lions belong to the Family, Myrmeleontidae, allows us to quickly look them up on the Internet and be confident we are not being fooled by a common name that may also apply to some other, unrelated something. With the Family name firmly in hand, we may explore the natural history of ant lions without needing to know exactly which species we are viewing. In some instances identification is only readily available at an even higher ranking such as Class. Millipedes are in the Class Diplopoda. There are many Orders (O) of millipedes and they are not easily differentiated so this entry is best left at the rank of Class. A great deal of taxonomic reorganization has been occurring lately with advances in DNA analysis pointing out underlying connections and differences that were previously unrealized. For this reason, all other rankings aside from Family, Genus and Species have been omitted from the interior of the tables since many of these ranks are in a state of flux. -
Taxonomic Revision of the Ant Genus Leptomyrmex Mayr
Table of contents Abstract . 3 Introduction . 4 Materials and Methods . 5 LEPTOMYRMEX Mayr 1862 . 8 Synonymic list of extant species of macro-Leptomyrmex . 8 Description of the worker caste . 9 Description of queen . 14 Description of male . 14 Keys to the worker caste . 18 KEY TO AUSTRALIAN LEPTOMYRMEX WORKERS . 18 KEY TO NEW GUINEA LEPTOMYRMEX WORKERS . 22 KEY TO NEW CALEDONIAN LEPTOMYRMEX WORKERS . 23 Keys to males . 23 KEY TO AUSTRALIAN LEPTOMYRMEX MALES . 23 KEY TO NEW GUINEA LEPTOMYRMEX MALES . 24 Species accounts . 25 The macro-Leptomyrmex species . 26 Leptomyrmex cnemidatus Wheeler, stat. nov.. 26 Leptomyrmex darlingtoni Wheeler . 29 Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Fabricius) . 30 Leptomyrmex flavitarsus (F. Smith) . 33 Leptomyrmex fragilis F. Smith . 34 Leptomyrmex geniculatus Emery, stat. nov. 36 Leptomyrmex melanoticus Wheeler, stat. nov. 38 Leptomyrmex mjobergi Forel . 39 Leptomyrmex niger Emery . 40 Leptomyrmex nigriceps Emery, stat. nov. 42 Leptomyrmex nigriventris (Guérin 1831) . 42 Leptomyrmex pallens Emery . 44 Leptomyrmex puberulus Wheeler . 45 Leptomyrmex rothneyi Forel, stat. nov. 47 Leptomyrmex ruficeps Emery, stat. nov. 48 Leptomyrmex rufipes Emery, stat. nov. 50 Leptomyrmex rufithorax Forel, stat. nov. 53 Leptomyrmex tibialis Emery, stat. nov.. 55 Leptomyrmex unicolor Emery . 56 Leptomyrmex varians Emery . 58 Leptomyrmex wiburdi Wheeler . 60 † Leptomyrmex neotropicus Baroni Urbani . 62 Micro-Leptomyrmex . 62 General comments . 63 Conclusion . 63 Acknowledgements . 63 References . 66 Abstract The ants of the genus Leptomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), commonly called ‘spider ants’, are distinctive members of the ant subfamily Dolichoderinae and prominent residents of intact wet forest and sclerophyll habitats in eastern Aus- tralia, New Caledonia and New Guinea. This revision redresses pervasive taxonomic problems in this genus by using a combination of morphology and molecular data to define species boundaries and clarify nomenclature. -
Pyramid Ants Dorymyrmex Bureni Dorymrymex Medeis Contributor: Timothy S
Pyramid Ants Dorymyrmex bureni Dorymrymex medeis Contributor: Timothy S. Davis DESCRIPTION Taxonomy and Basic Description Pyramid Ants are easily identified in the field by their distinctive cone shaped mounds with an entrance hole in the center. In South Carolina, two species have been collected and identified. Taxonomically, the Pyramid ants are in the subfamily Dolichoderinae. The Dolichoderine ants are distinguished as having a single “hump” or node between the thorax and gaster and the absence of a stinger. The genus Dorymyrmex is distinguished by the presence of a distinct mid- dorsal cone shaped protuberance. It should be noted that over the years the genus name has shifted from Doyrmyrmex to Conomyrma, back to Dorymyrmex. Hence, some papers from the mid 1980’s will bear the Conomyrma name. The best treatment of the Photo by T.S. Davis identification of the pyramid ants in the Southeastern United States currently is a paper by James Trager published in 1988. While color is rarely a good character for identifying ants, this character works well with pyramid ants. D. bureni is a light red to yellowish ant. D. medee is dark brown almost black in color. Another important character is the shape of the mesonotum. In D. bureni the mesonotum is smooth with out a sharp angle. D. medee the mesonotum is bears a sharp angle. There are nearly 9,000 species of ants that have been described on a world-wide basis. As would be expected, the biology and life histories of these ants are nearly as diverse as the group itself. Understanding the biology and life history of a given species is critical to decisions made regarding the management and/or conservation of an ant species. -
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ISSN 1997-3500 Myrmecological News myrmecologicalnews.org Myrmecol. News 30: 27-52 doi: 10.25849/myrmecol.news_030:027 16 January 2020 Original Article Unveiling the morphology of the Oriental rare monotypic ant genus Opamyrma Yamane, Bui & Eguchi, 2008 (Hymeno ptera: Formicidae: Leptanillinae) and its evolutionary implications, with first descriptions of the male, larva, tentorium, and sting apparatus Aiki Yamada, Dai D. Nguyen, & Katsuyuki Eguchi Abstract The monotypic genus Opamyrma Yamane, Bui & Eguchi, 2008 (Hymeno ptera, Formicidae, Leptanillinae) is an ex- tremely rare relictual lineage of apparently subterranean ants, so far known only from a few specimens of the worker and queen from Ha Tinh in Vietnam and Hainan in China. The phylogenetic position of the genus had been uncertain until recent molecular phylogenetic studies strongly supported the genus to be the most basal lineage in the cryptic subterranean subfamily Leptanillinae. In the present study, we examine the morphology of the worker, queen, male, and larva of the only species in the genus, Opamyrma hungvuong Yamane, Bui & Eguchi, 2008, based on colonies newly collected from Guangxi in China and Son La in Vietnam, and provide descriptions and illustrations of the male, larva, and some body parts of the worker and queen (including mouthparts, tentorium, and sting apparatus) for the first time. The novel morphological data, particularly from the male, larva, and sting apparatus, support the current phylogenetic position of the genus as the most basal leptanilline lineage. Moreover, we suggest that the loss of lancet valves in the fully functional sting apparatus with accompanying shift of the venom ejecting mechanism may be a non-homoplastic synapomorphy for the Leptanillinae within the Formicidae. -
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. -
Fossil Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Ancient Diversity and the Rise of Modern Lineages
Myrmecological News 24 1-30 Vienna, March 2017 Fossil ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): ancient diversity and the rise of modern lineages Phillip BARDEN Abstract The ant fossil record is summarized with special reference to the earliest ants, first occurrences of modern lineages, and the utility of paleontological data in reconstructing evolutionary history. During the Cretaceous, from approximately 100 to 78 million years ago, only two species are definitively assignable to extant subfamilies – all putative crown group ants from this period are discussed. Among the earliest ants known are unexpectedly diverse and highly social stem- group lineages, however these stem ants do not persist into the Cenozoic. Following the Cretaceous-Paleogene boun- dary, all well preserved ants are assignable to crown Formicidae; the appearance of crown ants in the fossil record is summarized at the subfamilial and generic level. Generally, the taxonomic composition of Cenozoic ant fossil communi- ties mirrors Recent ecosystems with the "big four" subfamilies Dolichoderinae, Formicinae, Myrmicinae, and Ponerinae comprising most faunal abundance. As reviewed by other authors, ants increase in abundance dramatically from the Eocene through the Miocene. Proximate drivers relating to the "rise of the ants" are discussed, as the majority of this increase is due to a handful of highly dominant species. In addition, instances of congruence and conflict with molecular- based divergence estimates are noted, and distinct "ghost" lineages are interpreted. The ant fossil record is a valuable resource comparable to other groups with extensive fossil species: There are approximately as many described fossil ant species as there are fossil dinosaurs. The incorporation of paleontological data into neontological inquiries can only seek to improve the accuracy and scale of generated hypotheses.