Species richness and regional distribution of myrmecophilous beetles

Abstract

Four major hypotheses have been put forward to explain local species richness of commensal or parasitic species. The resource distribution hypothesis predicts that regionally widespread host species are able to support higher local species richness of commensals or parasites. On the other hand, the resource size hypothesis predicts that larger hosts can support more species than smaller hosts, and comparably, the resource abundance hypothesis predicts that hosts that offer more resources are able to support more species. Finally, the resource concentration hypothesis predicts that hosts that occur in high-density patches support higher species richness. In this study, we tested the first three of the above hypotheses with myrmecophilous beetles and their host ants. In addition to species richness of myrmecophilous beetles, we also applied the above hypotheses to explain the distribution of the beetles. Our data are exclusively based on an extensive literature survey. Myrmecophilous beetles live in naturally fragmented environments composed of host ant colonies and they are exclusively dependent on ants. We found that the distribution of the host ants and the colony size of the host ants had a positive effect on both the species richness and the distribution of myrmecophilous beetles. In the same way, we found that myrmecophilous beetle species that are generalists, i.e. have more than one host ant species, and thus have more abundant resources, were more widely distributed than specialist species. Thus, we found support for the hypothesis that resource distribution, resource size and resource abundance have an effect on species richness and on the distribution of species.

Species richness of associates of ants in the nests of red wood ant Formica polyctena (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

“…We found species richness to be smaller in large nests, which was opposite to previous studies by Päivinen et al . (, ). All the same, due to the sampling method used, the nest volume was included into the models mainly as a covariate controlling for the sample size.…”

“…These hypotheses have mainly been applied in plant‐herbivore systems, but Päivinen et al . (, ) applied them to explain the species richness of myrmecophilous beetles in ant nests.…”

Species richness of cuckoo bumblebees is determined by the geographical range area of the host bumblebee

“…The distribution of species is primarily determined by the presence or absence of suitable habitats (Ricklefs & Miller, ). In previous studies, the resource distribution hypothesis has been tested with herbivores and their host plant species (Claridge & Wilson, , ; Neuvonen & Niemelä, , ; Cornell, ; Quinn et al ., , ), and myrmecophilous beetles and their host ant species (Päivinen et al ., ).…”

Complex Ecological Interactions in the Coffee Agroecosystem

“…As in other myrmecophilous coccinellids (Päivinen et al 2003), the larvae of the beetle are protected against ant attack, in this case by waxy filaments (Liere & Perfecto 2008) (Figure 3b). Although the larvae are protected, unprotected adult females (Figure 3c) must be able to lay unprotected eggs where ants are actively patrolling (i.e., near the concentrations of hemipterans) but must place the eggs where ants cannot find them.…”