Predatory behaviour in the ponerine ant, Centromyrmex bequaerti: a case of termitolesty

Déjean, Alain; Fénéron, Renée

doi:10.1016/s0376-6357(99)00060-1

Cited by 36 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…We determined that P. chinensis workers moved into R. virginicus nests. Nests, both occupied and abandoned by termites, provide shelter for invertebrates (Dejean et al, 1996) including 75 different species of ants, as well as nonnative termites (Dejean and Fénéron, 1999). Upon inspecting the stations occupied by P. chinensis workers in the lab and field, we found ants had excavated the cellulose matrix.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Eurhopalothrix heliscata (Wilson and Brown, 1984), Pachycondyla caffraria (Agbogba, 1992), and Centromyrmex bequaerti (Dejean and Fénéron, 1999), exhibit varying degrees of termitolesty, where the ants live with and prey upon termites. Wilson and Brown (1984) suggested that by living close to their food source, E. heliscata might have a competitive advantage over other ant species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use of termites, Reticulitermes virginicus, as a springboard in the invasive success of a predatory ant, Pachycondyla (=Brachyponera) chinensis

Bednar

Silverman

2011

Insect. Soc.

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Invasive ant species have general diet and nest requirements, which facilitate their establishment in novel habitats and their dominance over many native ants. The Asian needle ant, Pachycondyla chinensis, native throughout Australasia was introduced to the southeastern US where it has become established in woodland habitats, nests in close proximity to and consumes subterranean termites (Rhinotermitidae). P. chinensis do not occur in habitats lacking Rhinotermitidae. We suggest that subterranean termites are critical for P. chinensis success in new habitats. We demonstrate that P. chinensis is a general termite feeder, retrieving Reticulitermes virginicus five times more often than other potential prey near P. chinensis colonies. Odors produced by R. virginicus workers, as well as other potential prey, attract P. chinensis. Furthermore, P. chinensis occupy R. virginicus nests in the lab and field and display behaviors that facilitate capture of R. virginicus workers and soldiers. Termites are an abundant, high quality, renewable food supply, in many ways similar to the hemipteran honeydew exploited by most other invasive ant species. We conclude that the behavior of P. chinensis in the presence of termites increases their competitive abilities in natural areas where they have been introduced.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of termites, Reticulitermes virginicus, as a springboard in the invasive success of a predatory ant, Pachycondyla (=Brachyponera) chinensis

Bednar

Silverman

2011

Insect. Soc.

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“…Many ants feed on termites, and some ant species are specialised termite feeders (e.g. Maschwitz and Schönegge 1983;Mill 1984;Dejean and Fénéron 1999). Mutualistic interactions between ants and termites, such as nest-sharing, have also been observed (Jaffe et al 1995;Diehl et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional structure of ant and termite assemblages in old growth forest, logged forest and oil palm plantation in Malaysian Borneo

et al. 2014

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Forested tropical landscapes around the world are being extensively logged and converted to agriculture, with serious consequences for biodiversity and potentially ecosystem functioning. Here we investigate associations between habitat disturbance and functional diversity of ants and termites-two numerically dominant and functionally important taxa in tropical rain forests that perform key roles in predation, decomposition, nutrient cycling and seed dispersal. We compared ant and termite occurrence and composition within standardised volumes of soil and dead wood in old growth forest, logged forest and oil palm plantation in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Termites occurred substantially less frequently in converted habitats than in old growth forest, whereas ant occurrences were highest in logged forest and lowest in old growth forest. All termite feeding groups had low occurrence in disturbed habitats, with soil feeders occurring even less frequently 123Biodivers Conserv (2014) 23:2817-2832 DOI 10.1007/s10531-014-0750-2 than wood feeders. Ant functional groups showed more variable associations, with some opportunist and behaviourally dominant groups being more abundant in degraded habitats. The importance of ants and termites in tropical ecosystems and such differing patterns of assemblage variation suggest that ecosystem functioning may be significantly altered in converted habitats.

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“…The most constant and widespread enemies of termites are ants and so the termite -ant association is also high in TDEF. Termites are very weak and fragile and this can be easily overpowered by ants and other predators, and they block off the entry tunnels by using their jaws or chemical weaponry as a formidable defence (Dejean and Feneron 1999). Ants and termites are eusocial insects that live in extended colonies and have a significant influence on the surrounding ecosystem.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bark Traits of Woody Species and Bark Resource Use by Faunal Community in Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest of India

Anil¹,

Parthasarathy²

2016

Int. J. Curr. Res. Biosci. Plant Biol.

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A b s t r a c t A r t i c l e I n f oBark can help to defend trees and lianas against abiotic and biotic disturbances. Bark traits have long been used to characterise tree fire resistance and physical features like texture, anatomy, fissure and sealing can influence the effectiveness of bark in protecting trees from fire, herbivory and microbial infections. We investigated bark traits of 105 woody species (60 trees and 45 lianas) in Indian tropical dry evergreen forest, and the relationship between bark thickness and sap quantity with faunal diversity, to assess the ecological use of bark resources as space and food by various fauna in tropical dry evergreen forest. Bark thickness of tree species in the studied forest varied from 0.02 to 2.23 ± 0.22 cm (maximum for Garcinia spicata and least for Gmelina asiatica) and those of lianas varied from 0.01 to 1.23 ± 0.02 cm (maximum for Plecospermum spinosum and least for Cissus quadrangularis). A total of thirteen species of tree nesters and five species of wood borers utilized bark resource in tropical dry evergreen forest and most common among them include termites (30.47 %) followed by ants and millipedes. The association between bark traits and faunal occurrence was analysed with principal component analysis (PCA) and trade-offs were ascertained with bivariate Pearson correlation. Evidently bark texture, fissure and thickness play a positive role in accommodating fauna (p<0.01) in tropical dry evergreen forest. The co-occurrence among bark faunal groups is also evident and the highest values of co-occurrence were recorded for ants -millipedes. Our results reveal that bark traits of woody species provide suitable habitat for wood borers and tree nesters. This study provides a ground work for further investigation on the functional aspects of bark in tropical woody species.

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Predatory behaviour in the ponerine ant, Centromyrmex bequaerti: a case of termitolesty

Cited by 36 publications

References 18 publications

Use of termites, Reticulitermes virginicus, as a springboard in the invasive success of a predatory ant, Pachycondyla (=Brachyponera) chinensis

Use of termites, Reticulitermes virginicus, as a springboard in the invasive success of a predatory ant, Pachycondyla (=Brachyponera) chinensis

Functional structure of ant and termite assemblages in old growth forest, logged forest and oil palm plantation in Malaysian Borneo

Bark Traits of Woody Species and Bark Resource Use by Faunal Community in Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest of India

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