Subfamily Myrmicinae Research Articles

Diversity of ants (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) in organic and conventional Arabica coffee plantations in Aceh Tengah Regency, Sumatra, Indonesia

Several ant species are known as predators of coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei, the most damaging pest on coffee plantations. We investigated ant diversity and looked at their role in Arabica coffee plantation in Aceh Tengah Regency, Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. Ants were sampled four times between February and July 2020 using pitfall traps. We found 5 subfamilies and 17 morphospecies of ants collectively in organic and conventional plantations. Eight of them belonged to subfamily Myrmicinae, one species each for subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae and Formicinae, while others belonged to subfamily Ponerinae and Dolichoderinae. The slightly higher ant species composition in conventional coffee might have been caused by the fallen CBB infested berries on the ground that might attract more ant species to come. There was no significant different in each diversity indices calculated for both coffee cultivation, even though the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H’) in the conventional coffee was relatively higher. Most of ant species were general foragers and some of them are known as predators of CBB. This study has provided important information regarding ant fauna in coffee plantations locally which is an early step to conserve ant species to be used as biological control agents of CBB.

Myrmecofauna (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the yew-boxwood grove (Western Caucasus, Russia)

The data on the fauna and biotopic distribution of ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the yew-boxwood grove of the Caucasian State Natural Biosphere Reserve are presented. A total of 27 ant species were identified, belonging to 17 genera of 4 subfamilies (Dolichoderinae,Ponerinae,Formicinae, andMyrmicinae). The genera –LasiusF. andTemnothoraxMayr are the richest and include 5 species each. For the yew-boxwood grove, all species of ants are presented for the first time.

Food storage and morphological divergence between worker and soldier castes in a subterranean myrmicine ant, Carebara perpusilla

ABSTRACT Food reserves and trophallaxis help insect colonies regulate brood development and survive starvation events. Unlike wasps and bees, ants do not store food in external structures within the nest. Therefore, an ant colony’s ability to store food is greatly enhanced by the development of highly dimorphic workers and soldiers that are able to store food within their bodies. Carebara perpusilla (subfamily Myrmicinae, Emery, 1895) has a subterranean lifestyle and three castes: workers, soldiers with a proportionally larger head and gaster, and large winged queens. Workers are minute (1.5 mm long) and can hunt solitarily on tiny arthropods such as springtails and scavenge in groups on dead insects of various sizes. Rather than carrying big corpses to the nest, they bury it with soil and only retrieve haemolymph and small solid pieces. Moreover, some soldiers and virgin queens have a distended gaster and function as repletes. Food dyes revealed the storage of fat in the crop. Using dissections supplemented by micro-CT visualisation, we compared the crop of workers, soldiers and virgin queens and its capacity for considerable expansion. We discuss the morphological specialisation of repletes in ants that do not collect honeydew. Natural history data of more subterranean ants are needed to understand the adaptive context of foraging and other behaviours.

The loss of flight in ant workers enabled an evolutionary redesign of the thorax for ground labour

BackgroundExplanations for the ecological dominance of ants generally focus on the benefits of division of labour and cooperation during foraging. However, the principal innovation of ants relative to their wasp ancestors was the evolution of a new phenotype: a wingless worker caste optimized for ground labour. Ant workers are famous for their ability to lift and carry heavy loads, but we know surprisingly little about the morphological basis of their strength. Here we examine the consequences of the universal loss of flight in ant workers on skeletomuscular adaptations in the thorax for enhanced foraging on six legs.ResultsUsing X-ray microcomputed tomography and 3D segmentation, we compared winged queens and wingless workers in Euponera sikorae (subfamily Ponerinae) and Cataglyphis savignyi (subfamily Formicinae). Workers are characterized by five major changes to their thorax: i) fusion of the articulated flight thorax (queens) into a rigid box optimized to support the muscles that operate the head, legs and abdomen, ii) redesign of internal cuticular structures for better bracing and muscle attachment, iii) substantial enlargement of the neck muscles for suspending and moving the head, iv) lengthening of the external trochanter muscles, predominant for the leg actions that lift the body off the ground, v) modified angle of the petiole muscles that are key for flexion of the abdomen. We measured volumes and pennation angles for a few key muscles to assess their increased efficacy. Our comparisons of additional workers across five genera in subfamilies Dorylinae and Myrmicinae show these modifications in the wingless thorax to be consistent. In contrast, a mutillid wasp showed a different pattern of muscle adaptations resulting from the lack of wing muscles.ConclusionsRather than simply a subtraction of costly flight muscles, we propose the ant worker thorax evolved into a power core underlying stronger mandibles, legs, and sting. This contrasts with solitary flightless insects where the lack of central place foraging generated distinct selective pressures for rearranging the thorax. Stronger emphasis is needed on morphological innovations of social insects to further our understanding of the evolution of social behaviours.

Species assemblages and diversity of litter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) along an altitudinal gradient across two vegetation types in Hanthana Forest in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Ants account for 30% of terrestrial biomass and are highly sensitive to environmental variables. Present study investigated the effect of altitude (400-900 m) and vegetation type (mixed woodland and pine plantations in Hanthana forest) on litter ants. Two transects were laid at each of the five 100 m elevation levels. For hand-picking and litter extraction of ants, 1 m2 plots were laid at every 20 m intervals along the two sides of each transect. A total of 8689 ants in 9 subfamilies 32 genera and 56 morpho-species were collected. Subfamily Myrmicinae had the highest number of genera (15) and species (26 spp.). Genus Pheidole was represented by the highest number of species (5 spp.) while Solenopsis sp. 1 was the most widely distributed and abundant (6420 individuals) species. The mixed woodlands, regardless of elevation, were richer in ant species than pine plantations. Permutation test (ρ=0.30, P=3%) revealed a weak relationship between ant assemblages and environmental variables. Findings indicated that the difference in litter ant species assemblages and diversity in Hanthana Forest is possibly due to differences in vegetation types rather than altitude.

New fossil ants of the subfamily Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from the Upper Oligocene of Enspel (Westerwald Mountains, Rhineland Palatinate, Germany)

New species of the subfamily Myrmicinae are described from the fossil volcanogenic Lake Enspel, Westerwald, Germany. This Fossil-Lagerstatte comprises lake sediments, which essentially consist of intercalated “oilshales” and volcaniclastics. The sediments were dated to be of late Oligocene age. Out of the 287 fossil ants from Enspel examined, 96.5% (n = 277) belong to the formicoid clade (Formicinae, Dolichoderinae, Myrmicinae), and only 3.5% (n = 10) to the poneroid clade (Ponerinae, Agroecomyrmecinae). The high proportion of Myrmicinae (36.6%) indicates that this subfamily was already strongly represented in Central Europe in the late Oligocene. However, it should be noted that the large number of specimens are alate reproductives. The number of workers is low: n = 19, or 6.1% of 312 specimens when 25 isolated wings are included. Ten new species, belonging to the genera Paraphaenogaster, Aphaenogaster, Goniomma and Myrmica are named. Taxonomic questions regarding the separation of the two genera Aphaenogaster and Paraphaenogaster as well as aspects of biogeography, palaeoenvironment and palaeobiology in Enspel are discussed.

Integrative biodiversity inventory of ants from a Sicilian archipelago reveals high diversity on young volcanic islands (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Islands are fascinating study systems for biogeography, allowing researchers to investigate patterns across organisms on a comparable geographical scale. They are also often important for conservation. Here, we present the first bio-inventory of the ant fauna of the Aeolian Islands, a Sicilian volcanic archipelago formed within the last million years. We documented a total of 40 species, including one first record for Italy (Lasius casevitzi). Mitochondrial DNA barcodes were obtained for all 40 taxa sampled on the islands, 13 of which were studied genetically for the first time. Mitochondrial DNA sequences of island specimens were compared with those of conspecific samples from other Aeolian Islands, Sicily and mainland Italy. Standardized photographical documentation of all sequenced specimens is provided. All but one currently recognized species (97.5%) were recovered as monophyletic. Genetic divergence within species ranged up to 12.4% in Pheidole pallidula, although most species had much lower levels of intraspecific divergence. At the scale of the Aeolian Islands, intraspecific genetic divergence varied significantly between subfamilies, with species of the subfamily Myrmicinae showing higher intraspecific divergences than the Formicinae. Comparison of specimens from the Aeolian Islands with conspecific ones from the putative source populations (Sicily and mainland Italy) suggested that the island of Panarea has the genetically most derived myrmeco-fauna among the seven focal Islands. Overall, DNA barcoding is a useful-albeit not perfect-method for classifying poorly studied groups of organisms and ants in particular.

Ground-dwelling ants species diversity (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) at conservation forest and oil-palm plantation in Sumatra, Indonesia

This study aimed to investigate the diversity of ground-dwelling ant species within the conservation forest patch and the plantation area of an oil-palm plantation in Sumatra. Modified quadra protocol was applied to collect ants at five sites in the conservation forest and one location in the oil-palm plantation. A total of 76 ground-dwelling ant species belonging to 36 genera and six subfamilies were collected. The subfamily Myrmicinae was the highest in total species number (31) collected followed by Formicinae (29) and Ponerinae (9). The diversity index for the overall species collected was 3.00. Ant species diversity in both sites showed that the area still retains high diversity value for ants, and presumably for other taxa as well.

Mirmecofauna em áreas de preservação permanente e plantios florestais no noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul

As formigas compreendem um táxon muito diverso de insetos, apresentam elevada riqueza e são ecologicamente importantes nos diferentes ecossistemas terrestres. A riqueza e diversidade de formigas tendem a aumentar de acordo com a complexidade dos ambientes no que se refere à vegetação e ao estágio de conservação da biodiversidade. Este estudo visou caracterizar as assembleias de formigas que ocorrem em duas áreas de preservação permanente, descritas como fragmentos de vegetação nativa circundados por lavouras e, dois plantios de eucalipto, cercados por lavouras e pastagens. O estudo foi realizado no município de Frederico Westphalen (27°21′27″; 53°23′ 40″O), noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul. Foram utilizadas 10 armadilhas de queda (pitfall) e 20 iscas, 10 de sardinha e 10 de glicose em cada área. A riqueza foi definida como o número de espécies que ocorreram em cada uma das amostras e foi comparada por meio de análise de rarefação baseadas no número de ocorrências. A relação entre as espécies de formigas e os diferentes ambientes foi verificada através da Análise de Componentes Principais (PCA). A riqueza de formigas amostrada foi de 71 espécies, pertencentes a 19 gêneros, cinco subfamílias e, sete espécies ocorreram nos quatro ambientes amostrados. A subfamília Myrmicinae e os gêneros Pheidole e Camponotus foram os mais ricos no estudo. Observou-se diferença significativa quanto à riqueza, abundância e a composição das assembleias de formigas entre os ambientes amostrados. Os resultados apontam diferenças entre as assembleias de formigas dos fragmentos florestais e das plantações de eucalipto, e acrescentam informações acerca da biodiversidade da região do estudo.

DIVERSITAS SEMUT (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) PADA LAHAN GAMBUT DI DESA KUALA DUA KABUPATEN KUBU RAYA

Secondary peatlands located in Kuala Dua Village, Kubu Raya Regency have various types of insects, one of which dominates is ants. Ants are members of the Order of Hymenoptera which have high diversity and complexity as social animals. Ants play a role in spreading seeds, other insect predators, spore spreaders, decomposers, ecological controllers. Information about the diversity of ants in Kubu Raya Regency is still very limited, especially those on peat land in Kuala Dua Village, Kubu Raya District, therefore research on ant diversity needs to be done with the aim to record the diversity of ants on these peatlands. Laying down the observation path is done intentionally (Purposive sampling). The method used is hand collecting and leaf litter sifting. The results shows that seven genera and four subfamily were obtained. Subfamily found is Formicinae, Ponerinae, Myrmicinae, and Dolichoderinae. The Subfamily Formicinae consists of the genus Camponotus, Colobobsis, Polyrhachis, Anoplolepis. The Ponerinae subfamily consists of the genus Leptogenys. Subfamily Myrmicinae consists of the genus Pheidole. The Dolichoderinae subfamily consists of the genus Ecphorella. The diversity index value on line 1 (1.30) is classified as medium category, line 2 (0.80) is classified as low category and line 3 (0.34) is classified as low category. The abundance index on line 1 (0.80) is classified as high category, line 2 (0.73) is classified as low category, line 3 (0.50) is classified as low category. The similarity index of ant species on line 1 and line 2 are (25%) which classified as low category. Line 1 and 3 are (57.14%) classified as medium category. The similarity index of ant species on line 2 and 3 (40%) were also classified as medium category.Keywords: ants, diversity, Kubu Raya District, peat land.

KEANEKARAGAMAN SEMUT (Famili Formicidae) PADA LAHAN GAMBUT DI LINGKUNGAN GEDUNG BARU FAKULTAS KEHUTANAN UNIVERSITAS TANJUNGPURA PONTIANAK

Ants have an important role in an ecosystem such as seed spreaders, pollinators, decomposers, and soil growers. Ants can live on peatlands that have acidic pH. The new building of the Faculty of Forestry is an area of peatland where there is one of the fauna, namely ants. The ants in the environment of the Faculty of Forestry’s new biulding are unknown. The research aims to record the types of ants found on peatland in the environment of the new building of the Faculty of Forestry, Tanjungpura University. Takingthe samples of ants was done with sifting hand collecting and leaf litter sifting methods. This study found 4 subfamilies and 7 genera of ants. The subfamilies found were Subfamily Formicinae consisting of the genera Anoplolepis, Camponotus, Echinopla, and Polyrhachis, Subfamily Ponerinae consisting of Genus Diacamma; Subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae consisting of genus Tetraponera; and Subfamily Myrmicinae consisting of the Crematogaster Genus. Diversity index has a value of H ̅ = 1.44 which indicates that the research location has moderate diversity. The overall index of species richness has a DMg value = 5.58 indicating the wealth of ant species is in the high category. Evenness index with a value of 0.73, evenness of ant species is quite even. Keywords: Diversity of ants, Faculty of Forestry, Family Formicidae, Peatlands

Inverse dispersal patterns in a group of ant parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae: Oraseminae) and their ant hosts

AbstractWhen postulating evolutionary hypotheses for diverse groups of taxa using molecular data, there is a tradeoff between sampling large numbers of taxa with a few Sanger‐sequenced genes or sampling fewer taxa with hundreds to thousands of next‐generation‐sequenced genes. High taxon sampling enables the testing of evolutionary hypotheses that are sensitive to sampling bias (i.e. dating, biogeography and diversification analyses), whereas high character sampling improves resolution of critical nodes. In a group of ant parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae: Oraseminae), we analyse both of these types of datasets independently (203 taxa with five Sanger loci, 92 taxa with 348 anchored hybrid enrichment loci) and in combination (229 taxa, 353 loci) to explore divergence dating, biogeography, host relationships and differential rates of diversification. Oraseminae specialize as parasitoids of the immature stages of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with ants in the genus Pheidole being their most common and presumed ancestral host. A general assumption is that the distribution of the parasite must be limited by any range contraction or expansion of its host. Recent studies support a single New World to Old World dispersal pattern for Pheidole at c. 11–27 Ma. Using multiple phylogenetic inference methods (parsimony, maximum likelihood, dated Bayesian and coalescent analyses), we provide a robust phylogeny showing that Oraseminae dispersed in the opposite direction, from Old World to New World, c. 24–33 Ma, which implies that they existed in the Old World before their presumed ancestral hosts. Their dispersal into the New World appears to have promoted an increased diversification rate. Both the host and parasitoid show single unidirectional dispersals in accordance with the presence of the Beringian Land Bridge during the Oligocene, a time when the changing northern climate probably limited the dispersal ability of such tropically adapted groups.

A New Species of the Extinct Ant Genus Electromyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Abstract Electromyrmex wheeleri sp. n., which belongs to the extinct ant genus is described based on males from the Baltic and Bitterfeld Ambers (Priabonian stage, 33.9-37.2 Ma). Until now only one species of this specialized genus based on a single worker was described and taxonomic position of this genus in the subfamily Myrmicinae remains uncertain. By the forewing venation, males of E. wheeleri resemble Aphaenogaster Mayr, Messor Mayr and Pheidole Westwood, but diff ers from the fi rst two genera by the presence of Mayrian furrows, and from the latter one - by the antennal structure. On the other hand, males of this genus have a set of specialized characters, e. g., subcylindrical petiole, mandibles with an only single apical tooth, quite peculiar shape of mesosoma, etc. and the morphological features of the males of E. wheeleri also do not shed light on its systematic position.

Skeletomuscular adaptations of head and legs of Melissotarsus ants for tunnelling through living wood

BackgroundWhile thousands of ant species are arboreal, very few are able to chew and tunnel through living wood. Ants of the genus Melissotarsus (subfamily Myrmicinae) inhabit tunnel systems excavated under the bark of living trees, where they keep large numbers of symbiotic armoured scale insects (family Diaspididae). Construction of these tunnels by chewing through healthy wood requires tremendous power, but the adaptations that give Melissotarsus these abilities are unclear. Here, we investigate the morphology of the musculoskeletal system of Melissotarsus using histology, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray spectrometry, X-ray microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), and 3D modelling.ResultsBoth the head and legs of Melissotarsus workers contain novel skeletomuscular adaptations to increase their ability to tunnel through living wood. The head is greatly enlarged dorsoventrally, with large mandibular closer muscles occupying most of the dorsal half of the head cavity, while ventrally-located opener muscles are also exceptionally large. This differs from the strong closing: opening asymmetry typical of most mandibulated animals, where closing the mandibles requires more force than opening. Furthermore, the mandibles are short and cone-shaped with a wide articulatory base that concentrates the force generated by the muscles towards the tips. The increased distance between the axis of mandibular rotation and the points of muscle insertion provides a mechanical advantage that amplifies the force from the closer and opener muscles. We suggest that the uncommonly strong opening action is required to move away crushed plant tissues during tunnelling and allow a steady forward motion. X-ray spectrometry showed that the tip of the mandibles is reinforced with zinc. Workers in this genus have aberrant legs, including mid- and hindlegs with hypertrophied coxae and stout basitarsi equipped with peg-like setae, and midleg femura pointed upward and close to the body. This unusual design famously prevents them from standing and walking on a normal two-dimensional surface. We reinterpret these unique traits as modifications to brace the body during tunnelling rather than locomotion per se.ConclusionsMelissotarsus represents an extraordinary case study of how the adaptation to – and indeed engineering of – a novel ecological niche can lead to the evolutionary redesign of core biomechanical systems.

Formicidae (Hymenoptera) in a Natural Regeneration Area in Alta Floresta – Mato Grosso, in the Southern Amazon

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to survey the ants in an area of natural regeneration in the municipality of Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Sampling of the myrmecofauna was performed by means of soil traps containing preservative liquid, distributed along a transect. After 48 hours in the field, the specimens were collected, quantified and separated on the basis of morphospecies classification, and sent for taxonomic identification. A total of 586 individuals were sampled in five genera and three subfamilies (Myrmicinae, Dolichoderinae and Formicinae), with the most abundant species being Dorymyrmex brunneum and Pheidole obscurithorax.

Two New Fossil Species of the Ant Genus Pristomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Rovno and Bitterfeld Ambers

The ant genus Pristomyrmex Mayr (subfamily Myrmicinae) comprises about 60 extant species, distributed almost exceptionally throughout the tropics except for Central and South America. Single known fossil species from this genus, P. rasnitsyni Dlussky et Radchenko, was previously described from the Late Eocene Scandinavian amber. Here we described two new extinct species: P. elmesi sp. nov. (worker) from the Rovno amber, and P. archaios sp. nov. (male) from the Bitterfeld amber. P. elmesi differs from P. rasnitsyni by the somewhat smaller size (2.4 mm vs. 3 mm), by the slightly elongated, not transversal head (HL/HW 1.02 vs. 0.95), by the somewhat longer antennal scape (SL/HL 0.75 and SL/HW 0.77 vs. 0.72 and 0.68, respectively), by the much shorter, straight and thin propodeal spines (ESL/HW 0.12 vs. 0.25), by the absence of meadial tooth on the anterior cypeal margin, by the another type of mandibular dentation, and by the longer mesosoma. Male of P. archaios differs from all extant species by the presence of two closed cells, 1r 2r and mcu, on the forewing, while forewing of the modern species has only one closed cell, 1r 2r. We consider such kind of forewing venation as the plesiomorphy compare to extant Pristomyrmex species.

Transgenic Bt maize does not affect the soil ant community

Abstract: The objective of this work was to survey soil ants in Bt and non-Bt maize (Zea mays) crops, and to compare their effect on the soil ant community. Nine pitfall traps, 10 m apart, were installed in a central area (900 m2) of each of the following treatments (2,500 m2): conventional maize; maize modified with the Cry1F, Cry1Ab, and Vip3A proteins; and a native vegetation area. Fortnightly collections were conducted during four periods (complete producing cycles) of the crop, from 2011 to 2013. The number of ant species varied from 25 in Bt maize (Vip 3A) to 58 in Bt maize (Cry 1F). The treatment with conventional maize showed the highest Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H’ = 2.60). Jaccard’s index showed that there is dissimilarity between the cultivated maize areas and the native vegetation area in most treatments, and that Bt and non-Bt maize show similarity in their soil ant assemblages. The cultivation of Bt maize does not affect the soil ant community. The subfamily Myrmicinae shows the highest number of species in all the collection periods, with 57, 41, 47, and 50 species in the first, second, third, and fourth periods, respectively. The genus Pheidole, belonging to this subfamily, shows the greatest number of species.

New Species of the Extinct Ant Genus Stigmomyrmex Mayr and Designation of the Neotype of Stiphromyrmex robustus (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

The extinct ant genera Stigmomyrmex Mayr and Stiphromyrmex Wheeler (subfamily Myrmicinae) were described from the Baltic amber (Late Eocene, Priabonian, ca. 34–38 Ma). A new species, Stigmomyrmex rugulosus sp. nov., is described from the Baltic and Bitterfeld ambers, and a neotype of Stiphromyrmex robustus (Mayr) is designated. Additionally, we found from the Bitterfeld amber three more specimens of S. venustus Mayr, previously the only known species of the genus. S. rugulosus well differs from S. venustus by the presence of longitudinal rugulosity on the head dorsum, mesosoma and waist, and by the presence of numerous suberect hairs on the legs.

STUDY ON DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) IN URBAN AND PERIURBAN AREAS OF AURANGABAD CITY, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

The present study deals with the ant community variation in and around Aurangabad city. During the study total 16 species of ants belonging to twelve genera and four subfamilies were reported in eight habitat from urban and periurban regions. Abundance of ants was more in peri-urban region as compared to urban region. Subfamily myrmicinae was more dominant as compared to other subfamilies. Seasonal abundance of ants was seen to be more in winter season and less in rainy season.

Does organic management of agroecosystems contribute to the maintenance of the richness of ants?

Does organic management of agroecosystems contribute to the maintenance of the richness of ants? This study assessed the richness of ant species in organically farmed crop agroecosystems of different ages located in the southern state of Paraná, Brazil. During the sampling, the pitfalls that were active during May/August 2009 and from October 2009 to February 2010 were used. A total of 11,874 ants belonging to five subfamilies was sampled, comprising 18 genera and 48 species. The subfamily Myrmicinae (S = 27) had the highest richness, followed by the genera Pheidole (S = 10), Solenopsis (S = 7), Formicinae (S = 3), Camponotus (S = 5), and Brachymyrmex (S = 5). The average difference between the observed richness (Sobs) and the estimated richness (Chao2) was 10.9%. Ant assemblages belonging to agroecosystems under organic management for long times presented the greatest richness, indicating that this system contributes to the maintenance of ant diversity.