The real deal: the ant species, Pheidole sauberi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), first description of the queen and first record of a mermithergate in the Philippines

Abstract

The occurrence of mermithism in ants is reported for the first time in the Philippines. The mermithergate worker and previously undescribed dealate queen of Pheidole sauberi are described. The mermithergate worker is intermediate in size between the major and minor workers and pale yellow in color, in contrast to the brown healthy workers, and has a much larger gaster than either uninfected subcaste. Colony demographics and nest ecology are also reported. This find offers an opportunity for interdisciplinary research on ant parasitism.