Sociobiology: Volume 41, Number 3, 2003
Feature Articles:
Managing Subterranean Termite Populations for Protection of the Historic Tzu-Su Temple of San-Shia, Taiwan (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
By Nan-Yao Su and Err-Lieh Hsu
ABSTRACT
The historic Tzu-Su Temple of San-Shia, founded in 1769 in northern Taiwan, was rebuilt in 1947 due to severe damage by the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. The Temple has been treated with various insecticides but has continued to sustain C. formosanus infestation for the past five decades. Baits containing 0.5% hexaflumuron were placed onto active foraging sites of C. formosanus in November 1999, and by May 2000 all C. formosanus activity in the Temple was eliminated. In-ground Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System were placed along the Temple perimeter in the summer of 2000, from which C. formosanus activity was twice detected, baited, and eliminated. Another aerial colony, detected through a routine inspection in the summer of 2002, was treated using additional above ground baits (Recruit™ AG termite bait) and subsequently eliminated.
KEY WORDS: C. formosanus, Formosan subterranean termite, hexaflumuron, Sentricon, baits
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Morphological and Physiological Caste Differences in Synoeca cyanea (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini) According to the Ontogenetic Development of the Colonies
By Silvia Cristina Mari Noda, Sulene Noriko Shima & Fernando Barbosa Noll
ABSTRACT
Morphological caste differences in different stages of the biological cycle in Synoeca cyanea were not distinct. Females presented a gradual sequence in ovarian development from filamentous ovarioles to well developed ones with the presence of intermediates, with shorter ovaries than queens, which can be present or not according to the stage of colonial development. Such data suggest that access to the reproductive status would only be possible in some intervals of colonial development.
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Monthly Fluctuation of Termite Caste Proportions (Isoptera) within Fire Ant Mounds (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
By Thomas G. Shelton, J.T. Vogt, Marla J. Tanley, & Arthur G. Appel
ABSTRACT
Monthly abundance and caste proportions of subterranean termites (Reticulitermes spp.) inhabiting red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) mounds were recorded during 1999 and 2000 from a relatively undisturbed forest edge in Tuskegee, Alabama. Temperature data were also recorded at these mounds; mean air, soil, and mound temperatures followed a sine model over the course of the year. During the late fall and early winter, relative proportion of young workers (< 3rd instar) increased from 0 to 66.7% of the sample from the previous month, suggesting a change in temperature requirements among termite castes. These data demonstrate that Reticulitermes spp. termites are found year-round inhabiting active fire ant mounds, although relative caste proportions change seasonally. The hypothesis of a minimum soil temperature determining the movement of young Reticulitermes spp. workers into fire ant mounds (or other locations of increased temperature) is discussed.
KEY WORDS: Solenopsis invicta, Reticulitermes spp., temperature dependence, niche exploitation
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Evaluation of Semiochemicals as Feeding Stimulants for the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermidae)
By Mary L. Cornelius
ABSTRACT
Semiochemicals that have been previously reported as attractants or feeding stimulants were tested against the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Paired choice tests were conducted where consumption of chemically treated and solvent-treated filter paper disks were compared for each chemical over a range of concentrations. There were no differences in the consumption of filter paper disks treated with cholesterol or D-aspartic acid compared with controls at any of the concentrations tested. Dehydroisoandrosterone and hydroquinone acted as feeding deterrents at the higher concentrations. Ergosterol acted as a feeding stimulant at a concentration of 1 mg/g of filter paper. Field tests would need to be conducted to determine if ergosterol or other feeding stimulants could actually increase the efficacy of baits in the field.
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The Myrmicine Ants of the Adelomyrmex laevigatus Species Complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
By Fernando Fernández C. & William P. Mackay
ABSTRACT
The myrmicine ants of the Adelomyrmex laevigatus species complex are revised. The following species are described and keyed: A. brevispinosus Fernández sp. n. (México and Costa Rica); A. foveolatus Fernández sp. n. (Costa Rica); A. laevigatus Mackay sp. n. (Costa Rica and Panamá), A. micans Fernández sp. n. (México); A. microps Fernández sp. n. (Costa Rica), and A. minimus Fernández sp. n. (Costa Rica). This complex can be recognized by the following combination of characters: promesonotum with a smooth and shining area of varying size, hypostomal teeth present, propodeal spines never stout and never directed posteriorly, and node of petiole short. The group is presently confined to Mesoamerica, from México to Panamá.
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Myrmecophytes of the Understory of French Guianian Rainforests: Their Distribution and Their Associated Ants
By P.J. Solano, S. Durou, B. Corbara, A. Quilichini, P. Cerdan, M. Belin-Depoux, J.H.C. Delabie & A. Dejean
ABSTRACT
We noted in this study that the distribution of four myrmecophytic species living in the understory of French Guianian rainforests is different enough to limit exchanges of associated plant-ants. In all cases Hirtella physophora was localized on the upper part of hillsides; Tococa guianensis rather at the bottom, while Cordia nodosa and Maieta guianensis extended from the lower to the upper parts with Cordia abundant at mid-slope and Maieta at the bottoms of the hills. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that ants compete for possession of myrmecophytes. Indeed, few myrmecophyte individuals lacked associated ants. Each myrmecophytic species was colonized by several ant species with certain of these ants able to colonize several myrmecophytic species. Finally, the number of associated ant species decreased with the size and hence the age of the myrmecophytes. Hirtella was specifically associated with Allomerus decemarticulatus (only one exception for a small individual), and Maieta with Pheidole minutula, but small and medium-sized individuals also sheltered Crematogaster sp.1. Cordia was mostly associated with Al. octoarticulatus, more rarely with Azteca sp.1. The situation for Tococa seemed unclear as it shared its most frequent associates, namely Crematogaster sp.1 and Azteca sp.1, with Maieta and Cordia.
KEY WORDS: Ant-plant mutualism, myrmecophytes, specificity, local distribution, competition.
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The Effect of Plant Cover on Atta robusta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Distribution in Restinga Vegetation
By M.C. Teixeira & J.H. Schoereder
ABSTRACT
This paper tests the influence of plant cover on the leaf-cutting ant A. robusta nest distribution in restinga vegetation, a vegetation type occurring along the Brazilian coast. The average nest abundance was estimated from the high tide line in 13 850x20m transects, and the effects of plant cover on nest density and size were estimated in 30 500x20m transects. Leaf-cutting ant nests started to occur at 350m from the high tide line, a plant physiography called Myrtaceae thicket also occurs there. There is a positive significant relationship between nest density and arboreal plant cover. Nest density inside the Myrtaceae thicket was 1.63 nests/ha. Nest distribution was attributed to the conditions and resources needed to rear the symbiotic fungi of leaf-cutting ants. Three hypotheses may explain the pattern: (i) variations in temperature and moisture inside the Myrtaceae thicket are less severe; (ii) the roots of the Myrtaceae may be used as support for the fungi; and (iii) more resources are available in the thicket than in the other plant physiographies. A. robusta, due to its response to plant cover, may be used as an indicator of vegetation disturbance and regeneration.
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Site Fidelity in Foraging Argentine Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
By Nicole Fernandes & Michael K. Rust
ABSTRACT
Argentine ants, Linepithema humile (Mayr), have polydomous colonies that are frequently in close proximity to food resources in their foraging territory. Individual foragers returned to a specific feeding location repeatedly over 48 hours, showing a high degree of site fidelity. At 24-hours post treatment, 25.5% of the ants returning to the sucrose feeding station were marked with Fluorescent Brightner 28 (FB 28). At 48 hours, the percentage decreased to 11.7%. Workers mass recruited other ants from the colony and established strong recruitment trails to the new resource resulting in the decreased proportion of marked ants as time increased after the marker had been consumed. In addition to trail pheromones, other cues may be responsible for the high degree of site fidelity.
KEY WORDS: Keywords: site fidelity, Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, mass recruitment
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Myrmicine Ants of the Genera Ochetomyrmex and Tranopelta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
By Fernando Fernández C.
ABSTRACT
The species of the myrmicine ant genera Ochetomyrmex and Tranopelta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are revised. Both genera are currently put in the tribe Ochetomyrmecini. Because the tribe is not clearly defined, the genera are treated separately. Both genera are confined to Neotropical Region with the following species: Ochetomyrmex semipolitus Mayr (= Ochetomyrmex mayri Forel new synonymy; = Ochetomyrmex subpolitus (sensu Wheeler) new synonymy; = Ochetomyrmex argentinus (Kusnezov) new synonymy; = Ochetomyrmex bolivianus (Kusnezov) new synonymy), Ochetomyrmex neopolitus Fernández sp.n. (= Ochetomyrmex subpolitus sensu Kempf), Tranopelta gilva Mayr (= Monomorium amblyops Emery new synonymy; = Monomorium heyeri Forel new synonymy; = Tranopelta gilva brunnea Forel; = Tranopelta heyeri Forel; = Tranopelta heyeri columbica Forel new synonymy; = Tranopelta gilva albida Mann; = Tranopelta amblyops Emery; Tranopelta gilva amblyops Emery) and Tranopelta subterranea (Mann) (= Monomorium (Mitara) subterraneus Mann).
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Genetic Distance Between Nests and Population Genetic Diversity of Nasutitermes nigriceps and N. corniger (Isoptera: Termitidae) in Guatemala Using AFLP Markers
By Julio García, Kiyoto Maekawa, Toru Miura Reginaldo Constantino & Tadao Matsumoto.
ABSTRACT
Termites, distributed mainly in tropical regions, are eusocial insects that live in highly organized and integrated colonies. It is considered that eusociality is favored by high intracolony relatedness, since inclusive fitness is increased. It has been argued that in the case of termites, high genetic relatedness within the colony is achieved by alternating cycles of inbreeding and outbreeding within the population, where a pair of reproductives that are unrelated but a product of intense inbreeding, produces highly related offspring. However, population inbreeding, intercolony genetic relationships, and the hierarchical structure of termite populations have been under studied. In this study, we used the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique to analyze population genetic diversity and genetic distance between termite nests of Nasutitermes nigriceps and between nests of N. corniger in Guatemala to clarify the degree of genetic relatedness among different colonies within a termite population. Genetic distance was analyzed at both long- and short-distance-scales. Genetic diversity was determined within termite populations and genetic distance was estimated between colony nests. A Mantel test was applied to the values of geographic and genetic distances. For N. nigriceps a total of 181 AFLP fragments were obtained from the three primer combinations resulting in 26 (14%) polymorphic bands. For N. corniger a total of 199 AFLP fragments were obtained from the three primer combinations resulting in 39 (19%) polymorphic bands. At both distance scales, a clear correlation was not found between geographic and genetic distances. These low values of genetic diversity suggest that a genetic bottle neck could have occurred in the termite populations. The weak relationship between genetic and geographic distances could be the result of the low genetic diversity within the termite populations, or the result of sampling a non-substructured population.
KEY WORDS: Termites, Nasutitermes, genetic distance, genetic diversity, Guatemala
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New Distribution Records of Neotropical Hetaeriinae (Coleoptera: Histeridae)
By Alexey K. Tishechkin
ABSTRACT
New distribution records for the following species of Hetaeriinae (Coleoptera: Histeridae), the subfamily which consists exclusively of obligate myrmeco- and termitophiles, are given: Anasynodites striatus costaericae, Aphanister fungifer, Coelister cavernosus, Convivister nevermanni, Cyclechinus amphibolus, Daptesister pilosus, Eurysister carinatus, Euxenister wheeleri, Gallaster hisrsuta, Glyptosister cornutus, Iugulister clarissae, Notocoelis satur, Nymphister simplicissimus, Opadosister longipes, Paratropinus scalptus, Pulvinister nevermanni, Reninus salvini, R. puncticollis, Troglosternus dasypus, and T. ecitonis. Eciton burchelli and Eciton vagans are reported as new ant hosts for C. nevermanni and G. hisrsuta, respectively.
KEY WORDS: Histeridae, Hetaeriinae, distribution, Neotropics, inquilines
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A New Species of Pseudacteon Attacking Solenopsis Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Argentina
By Brian V. Brown, Patricia Folgarait & Larry Gilbert
ABSTRACT
A new species of ant-parasitizing phorid fly, Pseudacteon bulbosus, (Diptera: Phoridae), is described. These flies are the first recorded parasitoids of Solenopsis interrupta Santschi, and some aspects of their natural history are outlined.
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Population Dynamics of the Neotropical Swarm-Founding Wasp Apoica flavissima (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Epiponini), with Emphasis on Caste Dimorphism
By Fabio S. Nascimento, José R. Raposo-Filho & Ivelize C. Tannure-Nascimento
ABSTRACT
We investigated the demographic evidences supporting cyclical oligogyny hypothesis in the swarm-founding wasp Apoica flavissima. As predicted by this hypothesis, queen number decreased along the colony cycle, and the number of mature oocytes of queens was negatively correlated with queen number. Queens were significantly larger than workers in posterior variables on gaster and smaller in anterior variables (head and wings). New queens with slight ovarian development were found in the post-ergonomic colony at the oligogyny point.
KEY WORDS: Vespidae, Epiponini, colony cycle, castes, demography.
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Size of Fat Body Trophocytes and the Ovarian Development in Workers and Queens of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides
By V.T. Paes de Oliveira & C. Cruz-Landim
ABSTRACT
The correlation between trophocyte size and ovarian development is negative in workers and positive in queens of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides. The nurse workers which have the ovaries in a higher developmental stage, present smaller fat body cells them newly-emerged ones. In newly-emerged and nurse workers the trophocytes seem to be delivering their stored products, among which probably vitellogenin. As in workers the cell size variations do not support the occurrence of proteic synthesis or the increasing in reverses storage after the adult emergence, the products released from the trophocytes must come from cellular reserves remaining from the larval phase. This datum is in agreement with the early and brief vitellogenic phase in the ovaries of this caste. In foragers the trophocyte size seen stabilized. In queens it was verified considerable increasing in the trophocyte size from virgin to physogastric queen, as well as the maintenance of the size during all fertile life of the queen.
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Microepiphytes on Branches Deter Leaf-Cutting Ant Herbivory
By James K. Wetterer
ABSTRACT
Symbiotic “microepiphytes,” such as bacteria, lichens, and mosses, often coat both leaves and branches of trees, and may have both negative and positive impacts on the host tree. Microepiphytes that have a net negative impact to the host plant when growing as epiphylls on leaves may, however, have a net positive impact when growing on branches where they do not block photosynthetic surfaces. In Costa Rica, I examined whether microepiphytes on branches deter an important herbivore, the leaf-cutting ant (Atta cephalotes), from attacking leaves. I cut Y-shaped branches from a grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) tree, cleaned microepiphytes from the base and from one of the two side branches, and inserted the base in a leaf-cutting ant foraging trail. In 9 of 10 replicates, the ants preferentially cut leaves on the side branch cleaned of microepiphytes. Microepiphytes on branches appear to offer protection against leaf-cutting ants and may result in a net benefit to host trees. Additional work is needed to understand better the relationship between microepiphytes and their host plants, particularly the costs and benefits accrued by the different symbionts.
KEY WORDS: ants, Atta, Costa Rica, epiphylls, epiphytes, leaf-cutting ants, herbivory, plant defenses
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Evaluation of Methoprene Granular Baits Against Foraging Pharaoh Ants, Monomorium pharaonis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
By Chow-Yang Lee, Leng-Choy Lee, Julie Pei-Siew Na, Pooi-Yen Loke, Kay-Tee Lim & Edwin Hong-Hua Teo
ABSTRACT
Field performance of a 0.5% methoprene-based granular bait (Protect-B) was evaluated against foraging Pharaoh ants, Monomorium pharaonis (L.) in pantries of dormitories of a university campus. A 1% hydramethylnon containerized bait (bait station) was used for comparison. Results indicated that both bait formulations provided more than 85% reduction in ant counts within 4 weeks post-treatment, and all baited populations were possibly eliminated within 8 weeks post-treatment. Subsequently, no Pharaoh ant was detected up to 12 weeks post-treatment. Upon reduction of Pharaoh ants, ant counts on index cards for several peridomestic species such as big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala), ghost ant (Tapinoma melanocephalum) and crazy ant (Paratrechina longicornis) were increased. The methoprene bait also provided excellent performance against the big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala, but they did not reduce T. melanocephalum and P. longicornis numbers. Hydramethylnon bait was ineffective against big-headed ant in this study.
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Lasius austriacus sp.n., a Central European Ant Related to the Invasive Species Lasius neglectus
By Birgit C. Schlick-Steiner, Florian M. Steiner, Stefan Schödl & Bernhard Seifert
ABSTRACT
Lasius austriacus sp.n., a xerothermophilic ant with mainly subterranean life habits, is described. The new species is related to the pest ant L. neglectus Van Loon, Boomsma & Andrasfalvy 1990 and L. turcicus Santschi 1921. L. austriacus was found to be associated with the grass mealybug Euripersia europaea Newstead 1897. The presently known distribution range is restricted to Austria (three populations) and the Czech Republic (one population), the Czech population so far had erroneously been referred to as the only known L. neglectus population in a natural habitat in Europe. L. austriacus offers an opportunity to elucidate the evolution of the notorious pest species L. neglectus.
KEY WORDS: Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Lasius austriacus, new species, taxonomic description, SEM, Austria, Czech Republic
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