Social interactions between an inquiline ant, Ectatomma parasiticum, and its host, Ectatomma tuberculatum (Formicidae, Ectatomminae)

Inquilines, workerless social parasites, frequently show advanced adaptations to their parasitic life style that indicate a long co-evolutionary history with their host. Ectatomma parasiticum , the first inquiline described in the poneromorph group, usurps established colonies of E. tuberculatum and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of ethology 2009-05, Vol.27 (2), p.285-288
Main Authors: Hora, R. R., Blatrix, R., Fresneau, D., Fénéron, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Ecology
Animal ethology
Behavioral Sciences
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Evolutionary Biology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Insecta
Invertebrates
Life Sciences
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Short Communication
Zoology
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Summary:Inquilines, workerless social parasites, frequently show advanced adaptations to their parasitic life style that indicate a long co-evolutionary history with their host. Ectatomma parasiticum , the first inquiline described in the poneromorph group, usurps established colonies of E. tuberculatum and produces only sexuals. In laboratory colonies, parasites were specifically attacked by the host workers, showing a failure in their social integration. Social interactions were frequent between parasites and their hosts, especially antennation, interpreted as attempts to promote colonial odor transfer. Inquilines destroyed eggs laid by the other queens (67 out of 209 eggs laid), including conspecific parasites, which is unusual. Such partial integration into the host colony and potential parasite virulence argue for a recent evolution of social parasitism in E. tuberculatum .
ISSN:0289-0771
1439-5444
DOI:10.1007/s10164-008-0119-7