Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 1713 No. 1: 27 Feb. 2008
Type: Article
Published: 2008-02-27
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1713.1.4
Page range: 47–52
Abstract views: 29
PDF downloaded: 2

A new social parasite in the ant genus Ectatomma F. Smith (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Ectatomminae)

Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Nazaré 481, 04263-000, Ipiranga, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Laboratoire d’Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée (CNRS UMR 7153), Université Paris-Nord, 99, Avenue J. -B. Clément, 93430, Villetaneuse, France Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs s/n, 36570-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Laboratório de Mirmecologia, Convênio UESC/CEPEC, Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau, C.P. 7, 45600-000, Itabuna, BA, Brazil Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, 45650-000, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
Instituto de Ecologia, A. C., Km 2.5, antigua carretera a Coatepec, A.P. 63, 91000, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Hymenoptera Ectatomminae Ectatomma tuberculatum Social parasitism Taxonomy Mexico

Abstract

Ectatomma parasiticum Feitosa & Fresneau, a new ant species socially parasitic on Ectatomma tuberculatum (Olivier), is described from gynes discovered in Apazapan, state of Veracruz, Mexico, and reared in the laboratory. Ectatomma parasiticum is the first social parasite described in the Ectatomminae. This species can be distinguished from its host by morphological and behavioral features characteristic of the inquilines known in other ant subfamilies including reduced size, thickened petiole, and agonistic interactions with host species.

References

  1. Bolton, B., Alpert, G., Ward, P.S., Naskrecki, P. (2006) Bolton's Catalogue of Ants of the World: 1758 –2005. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, CD-ROM.

    Dejean, A. & Lachaud, J.-P. (1992) Growth-related changes in predation behavior in incipient colonies of the ponerine ant Ectatomma tuberculatum (Olivier). Insectes Sociaux, 39, 129–143.

    Fénerón, R. & Billen, J. (1996) Ovarian cycle in Ectatomma tuberculatum workers (Formicidae, Ponerinae). Journal of Invertebrate Reproduction and Development, 29, 79–85.

    Fernández, F. & Ospina, M. (2003) Sinopsis de las hormigas de la región Neotropical. In: Fernández, F. (Ed), Introducción a las Hormigas de la Región Neotropical. Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humbolt, Bogotá, Colombia, pp.49–64.

    Hölldobler, B. & Wilson, E.O. (1990) The Ants. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 732 pp.

    Hora, R.R., Doums, C., Poteaux, C., Fénerón, R., Valenzuela, J., Heinze, J. & Fresneau, D. (2005) Small queens in the ant Ectatomma tuberculatum: a new case of social parasitism. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 59, 285–292.

    Hora, R.R., Fénerón, R., Valenzuela, J., Favila, M. E. & Fresneau, D. (2001) Queen-size dimorphism in the ant Ectatomma tuberculatum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Sociobiology, 38, 407–420.

    Kugler, C. & Brown, W.L. (1982) Revisionary and other studies on the ant genus Ectatomma, including the descriptions of two new species. Search: Agriculture, 24, 1–7.

    Lachaud, J.-P., Cadena, A., Schatz, B., Pérez-Lachaud, G. & Ibarra-Núñez, G. (1999) Queen dimorphism and reproductive capacity in the ponerine ant, Ectatomma ruidum Roger. Oecologia, 120, 515–523.

    Pie, M.R. (2004) Foraging ecology and behaviour of the ponerine ant Ectatomma opaciventre Roger in a Brazilian savannah. Journal of Natural History, 38, 717–729.

    Radchenko A.G. & Elmes G.W. (2003) A taxonomic revision of the socially parasitic Myrmica ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Palaearctic Region, Annales Zoologici, 53, 217–243.

    Weber, N.A. (1946) Two common ponerine ants of possible economic significance, Ectatomma tuberculatum (Olivier) and E. ruidum Roger. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 48, 1–16.

    Wheeler, D.E. (1986) Ectatomma tuberculatum foraging biology and association with Crematogaster (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Annals of the Entomological Society America, 79, 300–303.

    Wilson, E.O. (1971) The Insect Societies. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 548 pp.

    Wilson, E.O. (1984) Tropical social parasites in the ant genus Pheidole, with an analysis of the anatomical parasitic syndrome. Insectes Sociaux, 31, 316–334.