In this paper, we analyze and compare nest composition and architecture as well as worker relatedness in three related species of slave-making ants： Rossomyrmex anatolicus, R. minuchae, and R. quandratinodum. Colony ...In this paper, we analyze and compare nest composition and architecture as well as worker relatedness in three related species of slave-making ants： Rossomyrmex anatolicus, R. minuchae, and R. quandratinodum. Colony structure within nests is an important trait in ants, especially in the case of mixed societies, when host and parasite coexist in the same nest. Data for their respective free-living hosts, Proformica korbi, P.. longiseta and P. sp., are also provided. For our study, we integrated a meticulous excava- tion procedure with a genetic method. We conclude that the average number of parasites, as well as of slaves, is species-specific, whereas nest depth depends on the nest archi- tecture of the host. The genus Rossomyrmex seems to be monogynous and monandrous, whereas Proformica shows differences in the number of queens and mating frequency. R. quandratinodum shows different traits in nest composition （host/parasite ratio： P/R） and architecture. The difference in traits may account for some differences in parasitism： raid process or avoidance of parasitism.展开更多
Socially parasitic ants of the formicoxenine genus Myrmoxenus exhibit considerable diversity in colony structure and life history.While some species are active slave-makers with many workers and others are workerless...Socially parasitic ants of the formicoxenine genus Myrmoxenus exhibit considerable diversity in colony structure and life history.While some species are active slave-makers with many workers and others are workerless‘murder-parasites,’Myrmoxenus kraussei is considered as a‘degenerate slave-maker’because of its very low worker numbers.Here,we document that Temnothorax recedens host workers in single colonies of M.kraussei from Lago di Garda,Italy,exhibit significantly more genetic diversity than workers in unparasitized colonies.This raises the possibility that,despite its low worker numbers,M.kraussei may actively engage in slave raids in nature.展开更多
文摘In this paper, we analyze and compare nest composition and architecture as well as worker relatedness in three related species of slave-making ants： Rossomyrmex anatolicus, R. minuchae, and R. quandratinodum. Colony structure within nests is an important trait in ants, especially in the case of mixed societies, when host and parasite coexist in the same nest. Data for their respective free-living hosts, Proformica korbi, P.. longiseta and P. sp., are also provided. For our study, we integrated a meticulous excava- tion procedure with a genetic method. We conclude that the average number of parasites, as well as of slaves, is species-specific, whereas nest depth depends on the nest archi- tecture of the host. The genus Rossomyrmex seems to be monogynous and monandrous, whereas Proformica shows differences in the number of queens and mating frequency. R. quandratinodum shows different traits in nest composition （host/parasite ratio： P/R） and architecture. The difference in traits may account for some differences in parasitism： raid process or avoidance of parasitism.
基金We thank Daniela Schulz for technical assistance and DFG(He1623/24)for financial support.
文摘Socially parasitic ants of the formicoxenine genus Myrmoxenus exhibit considerable diversity in colony structure and life history.While some species are active slave-makers with many workers and others are workerless‘murder-parasites,’Myrmoxenus kraussei is considered as a‘degenerate slave-maker’because of its very low worker numbers.Here,we document that Temnothorax recedens host workers in single colonies of M.kraussei from Lago di Garda,Italy,exhibit significantly more genetic diversity than workers in unparasitized colonies.This raises the possibility that,despite its low worker numbers,M.kraussei may actively engage in slave raids in nature.
