Ectaheteromorph ants also host highly diverse parasitic communities: a review of parasitoids of the Neotropical genus Ectatomma

Abstract

Despite the diversity of ant-myrmecophile associations, there are few examples of primary parasitism of ants and these are poorly documented, particularly in genera with only a few species such as the genus Ectatomma. We identified 18 associations that involve at least 16 taxa of primary parasitoids distributed in three families belonging to two invertebrate classes, and five of the 15 valid Ectatomma species. Among these, we report for the first time an endoparasitoid fly (probably a phorid) that attacks E. ruidum larvae and constitutes the second record of ant-larva endoparasitism by a dipteran. We provide a brief account of the interactions of these organisms with their hosts and their possible impact at the colonial or population level. Ectatomma ants, though being a small group, serve as a remarkable resource for the evolution of a wide variety of parasitoid organisms which, comparatively, are much more important than those associated with better-studied ant genera such as Myrmica or Formica. Considering the lack of studies dedicated to their parasites and parasitoids, the available information (almost limited to the three most studied Ectatomma species) suggests that, in spite of both their carnivorous diet and the aggressiveness typical of their workers, the diversity of these associations with Ectatomma might be much more important than previously expected. We stress the urgency of performing detailed inventories focused on these associations, not only for the genus Ectatomma, but for all the poorly studied ant communities (ectaheteromorphs, poneromorphs, arboreal ants) and endangered species.

Uncovering species boundaries in the Neotropical ant complexEctatomma ruidum(Ectatomminae) under the presence of nuclear mitochondrial paralogues

“…The above two species are known to be sympatric only in a region situated on the coastal plain near the border between Chiapas in Mexico and Guatemala. Previous studies have revealed that both species have similar life traits in this region, including feigning of death when workers are disturbed (Cupul‐Magaña, ) and presence of the same parasitoid eucharitid wasp species (Pérez‐Lachaud et al ., ; Lachaud & Pérez‐Lachaud, ). However, ongoing research supports that, in addition to the presence/absence of microgyny, the two species can also be discriminated from each other by other biological traits, such as date of sexuals production (J.‐P.…”

As formigas poneromorfas do Brasil

“…Se os parasitoides permanecem dentro da colônia por algumas horas, as formigas mostram apenas uma moderada agressividade a eles (LACHAUD; PEREZ-LACHAUD, 2012;LACHAUD et al, 1998), o que pode ser resultado tanto de adaptações morfológicas como de mimetismo químico dos parasitoides (LACHAUD et al, 1998;HOWARD et al, 2001;PÉREZ-LACHAUD et al, 2015). Espécies do gênero Dilochanta, por exemplo, possuem uma depressão no escutelo que pode estar associada a secreções que provavelmente têm alguma relação com a ausência de agressões aos parasitoides em suas primeiras horas de vida dentro do ninho (LACHAUD et al, 1998;.…”

Parasitoides e outros inimigos naturais das formigas Poneromorfas

“…Os parasitoides normalmente emergem das pupas dentro do ninho de seus hospedeiros e podem sair por si só, ou ser carregados para fora das colônias pelas formigas como se fossem lixo (LA-CHAUD et al, 1998;PÉREZ-LACHAUD et al, 2006a;TORRÉNS, 2013). Se os parasitoides permanecem dentro da colônia por algumas horas, as formigas mostram apenas uma moderada agressividade a eles (LACHAUD; PEREZ-LACHAUD, 2012;LACHAUD et al, 1998), o que pode ser resultado tanto de adaptações morfológicas como de mimetismo químico dos parasitoides (LACHAUD et al, 1998;HOWARD et al, 2001;PÉREZ-LACHAUD et al, 2015). Espécies do gênero Dilochanta, por exemplo, possuem uma depressão no escutelo que pode estar associada a secreções que provavelmente têm alguma relação com a ausência de agressões aos parasitoides em suas primeiras horas de vida dentro do ninho (LACHAUD et al, 1998;.…”