Sociobiology: Volume 42, Number 2, 2003

Feature Articles:

The Mexican and Central American Species of Astaenomoechus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Ceratocanthinae)

By H.F. Howden & B.D. Gill

ABSTRACT

The Mexican and Central American species of Astaenomoechus MartĚnez and Pereira are revised. Thirteen species are recognized of which four were previously described: A. setosus, A. nevermanni and A. americanus all described by Boucomont (1936) from specimens collected in termite nests in Costa Rica and A. estriatus, a South American species described by Paulian (1982) that ranges into Central America. Nine new species are recognized: A. cavei, A. hispidus, A. mixtus, A. multipunctatus, A. paniculus, A. parvosetosus, A. punctifrons, A. solisi and A. strigulosus. All species occur in Costa Rica except A. cavei, which is found in Honduras and Belize. Only one species, A. americanus, occurs in Mexico. All species are described, keyed and lectotypes are selected for the species described by Boucomont (1936).

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Morphology, Ultramorpholgy and Morphometry of the Fat Body of Virgin Females and Queens of the Ants Pachycondyla striata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

By E. Thiele & M.I. Camargo-Methias

ABSTRACT

The fat body cells of virgin females and queens of Pachycondyla striata ants belonging to the subfamily Ponerinae are illustrated from morphologic, ultramorphologic and morphometric viewpoints. Camera lucida drawing techniques were used, as well as scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Measurements of trophocytes and oenocytes areas in the tissue were recorded. The results showed that in P. striata queens and virgin females the trophocytes are arranged in cord-like formations in association with oenocytes. Trophocytes of both castes had round shapes, with rather vacuolized cytoplasm, whereas oenocytes, being smaller than trophocytes, had more homogeneous cytoplasm. It was also observed that both trophocytes and oenocytes of virgin females were larger than those found in the same queen cellular types.

KEY WORDS: Pachycondyla striata, fat body, morphology, morphometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ants.

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A Morphometric Analysis of Intercastes of the Slave-making Ant Polyergus rufescens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

By Roberto Visicchio, Alessandra Mori & Francesco Le Moli

ABSTRACT

Intercastes of the slave-making ant Polyergus rufescens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) were morphometrically analyzed and compared with queens and workers castes. Clear cut differences among these three ëmorphologicalí castes were recognized. Results of multivariate analysis showed significant differences in mean size for most morphological characters. On the basis of 15 external features we measured, intercastes were more similar to workers but distinguishable from them by a larger head and a queen-like abdomen (petiole and gaster). Canonical discriminant analysis also indicated this morphological differentiation. Mahalanobisí distances were 21.65 between queens and workers, 20.26 between queens and intercastes, and 6.02 between intercastes and workers.

KEY WORDS: Formicidae, Formicinae, Polyergus rufescens, slave-making ant, intercastes, multivariate and canonical discriminant analyses.

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Ecological Interaction Between Atta sexdens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and the Vegetation of a Mesophyll Semideciduous Forest Fragment in Botucatu, SP, Brazil

By Ivone P. Garcia, Luiz C. Forti, Vera L. Engel, Ana Paula P. de Andrade & Carlos F. Wilcken

ABSTRACT

Among 89 plants species growing in a subtropical dry forest fragment located in Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil, 35 species were cut by Atta sexdens, representing 39.34% of the current plants existing in this area. A. sexdens L., 1758 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) has a selective preference for the following species: Alchornea triplinervia, Faramea cyanea, Cariniana estrellensis and Casearea obliqua, with the first being the most cut species. The frequency and absolute densities of the plant families and species significantly influence the selection process. When comparing the absolute frequency regarding the 10 most cut plant species and the cutting frequency, significant data were obtained only for the euphorbiaceous A. triplinervia species, proving the preference of A. sexdens for this species in particular. These interactions are discussed based on ecological and management factors in agro-ecosystems.

KEY WORDS: Atta sexdens, foraging activity, secondary forest, leaf-cutting ant.

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The "Hippie Ant" - A Case of Extreme Intranidal Polymorphism in Fennoscandian Formica lugubris

By Bernhard Seifert

ABSTRACT

An extremely hairy form, frequently suspected to represent a separate species, occurs within the Fennoscandian population of Formica lugubris Zetterstedt 1838 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). This form was known under the working name ěHippie Antî among Finnish wood ant students. Results of a discriminant analysis and the consideration of intranidal phenotype compositions provide a high probability that the ěHippie Antî is only a morph of F. lugubris but no social parasite or independent species living in parabiosis with F. lugubris. The analysis included a standardized morphometry of 9 characters, removal of allometrically-caused variance, cluster analysis and canonical discriminant analysis. A three-morph model, assuming the existence of a normal (M1), intermediate (M2) and very hairy ěHippie Antî morph (M3) provided a better description of the data than a two-morph model that assumes the existence of only M1 and M3. 38 % of the 74 Fennoscandian nest samples contained morph mixtures of varying composition and 62 % M1 exclusively. 25 % of the 20 nests with M3 contained only M3 but 75 % also other morphs. No polymorphism was found within 73 nest samples from Britain, Germany, Czechoslovakia, the Alps, the Balkans and Russia where only the normal morph M1 was present.

KEY WORDS: polymorphism, discriminant analysis, social parasitism, parabiosis.

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Coevolution in the Slave-Parasite System Proformica longiseta-Rossomyrmex minuchae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

By Carmen Zamora-Muñoz, Francisca Ruano, Christine Errard, Alain Lenoir, Abraham Hefetz & Alberto Tinaut

ABSTRACT

Previous articles on slavemaker ants have identified different traits in slave species as a result of a potential coevolution with the slavemaker, demonstrating that species or populations used as slaves show an overall aggressive reaction against the slavemaker. The pairing of slave-parasite ants Proformica longiseta-Rossomyrmex minuchae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) constitutes a good model system to study the coevolution between the two species, because the parasite lives only in a very restricted area of the hostís distribution and the strategies shown by the parasitized P. longiseta may differ from the rest of the non-parasitized population. We investigated the aggressive behavior of the potential host P. longiseta from different locations (allopatric and sympatric with respect to the parasite) against R. minuchae and in-between locations. The phylogenetically related Proformica ferreri, a neighboring non-host species, was used as a reference outgroup. Aggressiveness level in confrontations was related to differences in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles and to geographical distances between the tested nests. Hydrocarbon profiles were correlated with geographical distances but not with aggression level. The slavemaker invariably won in all the confrontations but fights were less intensive against sympatric P. longiseta, also the location in which the host is less aggressive. We found comparative evidence suggesting that this low level of aggression might be an apomorphic trait, evolved by the parasite-selection pressure. For the first time in slavemaker ants, we demonstrate that the decreasing of a trait (aggressiveness) could be considered a counter-defense consequence of an arms race, a coevolutionary process in progress that matches with a Mafia system.

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Cryptotermes chacoensis, A New Species from Native South American Inland Habitats (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae)

By Yves Roisin

ABSTRACT

The imago and soldier castes of a new species, Cryptotermes chacoensis Roisin, are described from four series collected in the Gran Chaco. This species is remarkable for occurring in natural habitats far inland in South America and for being very similar to C. brevis, a widespread urban pest so far unknown from natural environments. The shape and reduced dentition of the soldier mandibles are however diagnostic of C. chacoensis.

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Does Fragmentation Alter Species Composition in Ant Communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)?

By Tathiana G. Sobrinho, José H. Schoereder, Carlos F. Sperber & Marcelo S. Madureira

ABSTRACT

We tested if fragmentation alters ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) composition, through the similarity of species composition within the remnants with matrix habitat. We sampled 17 tropical forest remnants and adjoined grassland matrix. Species composition was altered by fragmentation, because although total species richness increased with remnant area, the proportion of generalist ant species (occurring both in the matrix and in the forest) decreased. Four mechanisms may explain the above patterns: (i) fragmentation changed conditions inside the remnants, favoring species formerly only present in forest gaps; (ii) isolation effects changed the pool of species able to colonize different remnants; (iii) fragmentation increased invasion by generalist species, through the increase in perimeter/area ratio and conditions more similar to matrix habitats; and (iv) area reduction is higher than perimeter reduction. Smaller remnants lose more species than larger ones and receive less species from the matrix than large remnants, which explains the patterns found.

KEY WORDS: conservation, deforestation, Formicidae, invasion, landscape ecology, species composition.

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Genetic Relationship of Nasutitermes Populations from Southern Brazil (Isoptera: Termitidae)

By T. Collet & M.C.C. Ruvolo-Takasusuki

ABSTRACT

We determined the genetic relationship of the termites Nasutitermes corniger and Nasutitermes ephratae (Isoptera: Termitidae) from two locations in Northwest Paraná (upper Paraná river floodplain, Porto Rico, and the city of Maringá) by electrophoresis of esterase (EST), carbonic anhydrase (CA), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) isozymes. Our results suggest a high degree of genetic variability in Nasutitermes. The variability detected for Est-5 of N. corniger from Porto Rico corresponded to 17% polymorphism. This same species, collected in Maringá, presented 41.18% polymorphism at 17 loci. N. ephratae collected in Porto Rico had nine loci analyzed, showing 22.22% polymorphism. A low heterozygosity was detected in the population of N. corniger from Porto Rico (0.07), probably related to the isolation of this population, which would cause a lower gene flow and consequently contribute to the reduction in variability. N. corniger and N. ephratae, both collected in Porto Rico (PR) presented a smaller genetic distance (0.386) than N. corniger collected in Porto Rico and N. corniger collected in Maringá (0.646). Our results suggest different origins for the populations of N. corniger, and that the population of Porto Rico presents a lower rate of dispersion and gene flow than one of Maringá, probably due to the low capacity of dispersion of the alates.

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Isozyme Characterization of Three Nasutitermes Populations (Isoptera: Termitidae)

By T. Collet & M.C.C. Ruvolo-Takasusuki

ABSTRACT

Soldiers and workers of the termites Nasutitermes corniger and Nasutitermes ephratae (Isoptera: Termitidae) were analyzed for biochemical characterization of esterase isozyme (EST), carbonic anhydrase (CA), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH). The animals were collected from the upper Paraná river floodplain ń Porto Rico and Maringá city. N. ephratae presented variability for EST-5 while in N. corniger four polymorphic loci were observed (EST-2, EST-4, EST-5 and EST-6). For carbonic anhydrase four activity zones were detected for both species, with variability for CA-2 (N. corniger) and CA-4 (N. ephratae). IDH presented two activity zones with polymorphism in IDH- 1 and MDH presented five zones, with MDH-1 being polymorphic. The pattern of two bands detected in the extracts of heterozygous termites permitted us to suggest that the four isozymes analyzed possess a quaternary monomeric structure. The results obtained with the isozymes of the termites Nasutitermes from the two areas in northwestern Paraná demonstrate the presence of a high degree of polymorphism.

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The Effect of Plant Diversity on Fungus Garden Development and Foraging Behavior of Leaf-Cutting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

By Roberto S. Camargo, Luiz C. Forti, Mariana de Melo Rocha, Carlos Alberto O. de Matos, Juliane F. Lopes, Ana Paula P. de Andrade & Sandra S. Verza

ABSTRACT

The leaf-cutting ants forage a wide variety of plant species, used for symbiotic fungus cultivation. To better understand this tripartite complex interaction, 24 colonies of Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus were conditioned for 4 months to 6 different plants (Citrus spp., Ligustrum spp., Acalypha spp., Eucalyptus spp., Alchornea triplinervia, Melia spp.), to verify the influence of conditioning on foraging behavior of workers. The effect of plants on symbiotic fungus development was studied separately, through macerated plants in Agar and culture medium A as the control. During foraging, workers presented polyphagic foraging behavior, refusing the plants to which they were conditioned. The selection of plants is not correlated with the plant substrate that promotes good development of symbiotic fungus. Such results demonstrate the importance of plant diversity for fungus garden maintenance.

KEY WORDS: Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus, symbiont fungus, plant selection, leaf-cutting ant.

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Reciprocal Interference Between Ants and Stingless Bees Attending the Honeydew-Producing Homopteran Aetalion reticulatum (Homoptera: Aetalionidae)

By Mário Almeida-Neto, Thiago J. Izzo, Rafael L. G. Raimundo & Denise C. Rossa-Feres

ABSTRACT

We evaluated the reciprocal effects between foragers of the ants Camponotus crassus and of the stingless bees Trigona hyalinata on aggregations of the honeydew-producing treehopper Aetalion reticulatum. The interactions were observed in Bauhinia variegata (Caesalpiniaceae) and Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae) trees. We recorded the presence/absence of each attendant species in homopteran aggregations to test if the observed co-occurrence is lower than that expected by chance. An exclusion experiment was performed in which each attendant species was excluded from aggregations in order to test if an attendant species is more likely to occupy aggregations where the other attendant is not present. We also recorded the number of individuals of each attendant species in homopteran aggregations to search for any correlation between homopteran and attendant abundances. Additionally, we performed experiments using termites (Termitidae, Isoptera) as models to verify if the attendant species have the potential to defend A. reticulatum against natural enemies. The co-occurrence of attendant species was lower than that expected by chance. Homopteran aggregations without stingless bees were more visited by ants than those in which T. hyalinata was present, and vice-versa. The abundance of stingless bees was proportional to homopteran abundance, while ants abundance was not correlated to homopteran abundance. Both attendant species attacked the natural enemies models when we glued the termites ca. 1 cm away from homopteran aggregations, but only ants removed termites glued 5-7 cm away from aggregations. We suggest that the effects of non-formicid attendants should be included as another factor influencing the costs and benefits of ant-homopteran interactions, since honeydew availability for ants also depends on the presence and behavior of interspecific attendants.

KEY WORDS: Camponotus crassus, defensive behavior, mutualism, trophobiosis, territoriality, Trigona hyalinata.

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A New Species of Trachydonia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) From Malaysia with Some Notes on Its Behavior as a Guest of Leptogenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

By David H. Kistner, Volker Witte & Ulrich Maschwitz

ABSTRACT

A new species, Trachydonia leptogenophila, is described from Malaysia associated with the ant Leptogenys distinguenda. The subgenus Trachydonia is herewith raised to full generic rank and characters are presented to distinguish the genus from Zyras (s.st.). Behavioral observations are presented which show that Trachydonia leptogenophila follow the pheromonal trails of their ant hosts.

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Two New Genera of New World Rhyparini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae)

By Henry F. Howden

ABSTRACT

Two new genera of New World Rhyparini, Nanotermitodius, type species N. peckorum n.sp., from Mexico and Leptorhyparus, type species L. gilli n.sp., from Costa Rica and Panama, are described and illustrated. A key to the genera of the New World Rhyparini is included.

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Modulated Effect of the Termite Ancistrotermes cavithorax (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) on Soil Properties According to the Structures Built

By Pascal Jouquet, Thomas Mery, Corinne Rouland & Michel Lepage

ABSTRACT

Structures built by fungus-growing (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) termites could be considered as an extended phenotype linked to the optimization of a climatic homeostasis and to a better protection against predators. Most of the literature regarding the impact of termites on soil properties refers to termite epigeous mounds. In spite of their abundance in African savannas, few studies deal with the properties of underground fungus-comb chambers and galleries. In this study we compare the physical and chemical properties of fungus-comb chamber wall and interconnecting gallery wall from Ancistrotermes cavithorax and relate these properties to the termite ecological requirements (soil structural stability and moisture regime). The termite workers increased the proportion of fine particles and the soil organic matter content in their constructions, as compared to the control soil. No difference was observed in C content between nest and gallery walls, but the nitrogen content was greater in the chamber wall. C:N ratio also decreased significantly from control soil to gallery wall and to chamber wall. These changes could help explain the increase in structural stability of the termite modified soil material. Soil water retention was also improved in termite constructions, and exhibited its greatest values in the chamber wall. Both termite constructions, chamber and gallery walls were very stable. Therefore, we suggested that both types of construction increased the protection against environmental hazards, such as dryness and water flow, and indirectly against predators. Despite similar data in fine particles and carbon content, chamber wall was a better buffer than the gallery wall for maintaining adequate moisture within the nest. We concluded that termite building activities vary according to the type of structure edified.

KEY WORDS: Termites, Macrotermitinae, building activity, soil properties, biological requirements.

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Field Evaluation of Nootkatone and Tetrahydronootkatone as Wood Treatments Against Coptotermes formosanus

By Karen E. Nix, Gregg Henderson & Roger A. Laine

ABSTRACT

A component of Alaskan yellow cedar, citrus oil, and vetiver oil, nootkatone, and its derivative, tetrahydronootkatone, were tested for their potential as wood treatments against Coptotermes formosanus. Wood treatments dipped in 1% and 5% nootkatone and tetra-hydronootkatone in ethanol or vacuum impregnated (5% only) were tested in a natural setting using termite-infested bald cypress trees along the Calcasieu River in Westlake, Louisiana. Results showed no significant difference in the consumption of the control wood and wood treated with 1% nootkatone or tetrahydronootkatone solutions. Both trials testing the 5% dip method and one trial testing the 5% impregnated wood, for both nootkatone and tetrahydronootkatone, were significantly different from control wood and show good potential as a wood preservative.

KEY WORDS: Wood treatment, nootkatone, tetrahydronootkatone, Formosan subterranean termite.

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Key to the Nests of Brazilian Epiponini Wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae)

By Alberto Arab, Thiago A.O. Pietrobon, Fábio B. Britto, Thalita Rocha, Luceli Souza, Eduardo F. Barbieri & Harold G. Fowler

ABSTRACT

Brazil possesses the richest diversity of Epiponini wasps in the world. However, field identification of genera of these wasps, based on morphological features, is difficult without optical equipment. Therefore, this work presents a key to the Brazilian Epiponini genera based on the structural features of the nests.

KEY WORDS: Hymenoptera, field identification, nest structure.

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Level of Economic Damage for Leaf-Cutting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Eucalyptus Plantations in Brazil

By Ronald Zanetti, José Cola Zanuncio, Evaldo Ferreira Vilela, Hélio Garcia Leite, Klaus Jaffé & Antônio Claret Oliveira

ABSTRACT

The objective of this research was to estimate level of economic damage for leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Eucalyptus plantations, because it represents an important tool for integrated management of these pests. Data from the continue forest inventory of Eucalyptus plantation of the V & M Florestal, in the Municipality of João Pinheiro, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil from 1991 to 1996 were correlated with those of control costs of monitoring leaf-cutting ants in this area and period. Data of each stand of Eucalyptus were arranged in spreadsheets and statistically analyzed. Reduction in wood production per unitary increment of number of leaf-cutting ant nests per hectare was 0.87% for all Eucalyptus species; 0.68% for Eucalyptus camaldulensis; 3.26% for Eucalyptus citriodora; and 1.78% for Eucalyptus tereticornis. Wood production in stands of Eucalyptus cloeziana and Eucalyptus urophylla were not affected by density of nests of leaf-cutting ants present in the area studied. On the other hand, leaf-cutting ants negatively affected wood production in stands of other Eucalyptus species.

KEY WORDS: Attini, Atta spp., production of eucalyptus wood, mathematical models.

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New Record for the Army Ant Labidus mars (Formicidae: Ecitoninae) in the Atlantic Rain Forest of São Paulo State, Brazil

By Fernando José Zara, Maria S. C. Morini & Luciane M. Kato

ABSTRACT

The occurrence of the army ant Labidus mars in Mogi das Cruzes (SP, Brazil) is recorded and includes additional information about the area, diet and foraging schedule of this rare army ant. This species of Ecitoninae was collected from two mature fruits of the Syagrus romanzoffiana (Arecaceae) and were probably in the foraging phase.

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Influence of the Colony Cycle on Physiological and Morphological Caste Variation in the Perennial Neotropical Swarm-Founding Social Wasp, Protonectarina sylveirae (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini)

By Sulene Noriko Shima, Fernando Barbosa Noll & Ronaldo Zucchi

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the influence of the colony cycle on caste differences in Protonectarina sylveirae. Despite invariably keeping the main aspects of the conspicuous dimorphism between the castes, it is shown that: 1- queen-worker differences varied according to the progress of the colony cycle, 2- queens in pre-emergence colonies were smaller than those in male-producing ones, 3- workers were larger in pre-emergence than in other colony stages, 4- at particular steps of the colony cycle, non-inseminated ovary-developed queens and workers were detected. The size of the spermatheca differed between inseminated and non-inseminated queens with the highest values appearing in those bearing the most developed kind of ovary development. Differences between inseminated and non-inseminated queens were found in tergites III and IV, ovarian development and amount of fatty tissues. Because tergite size relates to gaster size, this character may be an important stimulus for selection of larger queens in the course of the colony cycle.

KEY WORDS: Vespidae; Epiponini, Polistinae, social wasps, caste differences, colony cycle, Protonectarina sylveirae.

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Influence of the Application of Juvenile Hormone on the Haemolymph Total Proteins and Electrophoretic Pattern of Worker Larvae of Apis mellifera

By Willliam F. Antonialli Junior & Carminda C. Landim

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present work was to verify the influence of the juvenile hormone (JH) applied on worker larvae of Apis mellifera 2 to 5 days old over the haemolymph total protein and electrophoretic pattern. Each larvae received topical applications of 1 ml of a solution of JH in hexane (1 µg/ml) on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th day after hatching and had the amount and electrophoretic pattern of proteins from the haemolymph analyzed during the remaining days of their life. As a control, haemolymph of larvae of the same age that did not receive any kind of treatment was analyzed. The results show that the application of JH on larvae 3 or more days old affect the amount and electrophoretic pattern of the proteins, with this effect lasting through the subsequent days.

KEY WORDS: juvenile hormone, Apis mellifera, proteins, haemolymph.

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Incidence of Apocephalus horridus in Colonies of Camponotus vicinus and the Effect of Antibiotic/Antimycotic Mixtures on Fly Emergence (Diptera: Phoridae; Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

By Mark E. Mankowski & Jeffrey J. Morrell

ABSTRACT

The incidence of the ant-decapitating fly (Apocephalus horridus (Borgmeier), Diptera: Phoridae) in colonies of the carpenter ant Camponotus vicinus (Mayr)(Hymenoptera: Formicidae) was investigated in western Oregon. Flies were present in 3 of 8 colonies sampled at levels ranging from 1 to 15 % of the workers sampled. Flies tended to be more prevalent in medium sized workers, suggesting that larger, major workers were not preferred by ovipositing flies. Feeding studies indicated that the addition of a mixture of propiconazole and tetracycline to a glucose diet increased ant decapitation, suggesting the fly larvae were given some advantage by the treatments. Exposure of workers to elevated temperature (39†C) for 48 hours decreased the incidence of decapitation suggesting that heat affected the development of fly larvae in the parasitized ants. Exposure to high temperature for short periods may rid the ants of the parasites and could be a reason for the occurrence of satellite colonies in warmer and drier locations than the parent colony in C. vicinus. The results suggest that the incidence of A. horridus in carpenter ant colonies might be manipulated by feeding workers compounds that encourage successful parasite development.

KEY WORDS: Camponotus vicinus, Apocephalus horridus, carpenter ants, ant decapitating flies, parasitism, antibiotics.

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Influence of the Labial Gland's Semiochemicals on the Feeding Behavior of Coptotermes havilandi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

By Fabiana Elaine Casarin, Alberto Arab & Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo

ABSTRACT

In termites, food search is mediated by semiochemicals that are liberated by exocrine glands. In the present work we investigated the effect of the secretion of the labial glands of workers on the feeding behavior of Coptotermes havilandi. The secretion of the labial glands exhibited phagostimulant effect on the workers of this species. The soldiers showed a low activity in response to the labial gland extracts suggesting that this glandís secretion might inhibit the recruitment of soldiers. Behavioral evidence for the regulation of food consumption by workers was observed.

KEY WORDS: termites, phagostimulant, food consumption.

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Cytochemical Localization of Lipids in the Venom Glands of Worker Bees of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

By Rusleyd Maria Magalhães de Abreu, Regina Lúcia Morelli Silva de Moraes, Flávio Henrique Caetano & Maria Izabel Camargo-Mathias

ABSTRACT

The technique of osmium imidazol for the ultrastructural detection of lipids in the secretory cells of the venom gland of 14-days old worker bees of Apis mellifera L. demonstrated the presence of these components at various sites of the gland. These lipids were found mainly associated to the external region of the basal lamina and the microvilli, in the intercellular spaces, in the cuticle of the collecting canaliculi and in the secretion contained in the glandular lumen. Therefore, in addition to revealing the presence of lipids in the secretion, this technique also allowed us to attribute an exogenous origin to the lipids in the secretion; they are taken up from the haemolymph.

KEY WORDS: Apis mellifera, venom gland, cytochemical, lipids.

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New Species and New Host Records for Scuttle Flies (Diptera: Phoridae) Associated with Army Ants and Termites (Hymenoptera: Formicidae; Isoptera: Termitidae)

By R.H.L. Disney & David H. Kistner

ABSTRACT

Among new records of myrmecophiles, Puliciphora ecitophila Disney sp. n. and Ecituncula setifrons Disney sp. n. are described from colonies of Eciton burchelii in Brazil; and Hexacanthophora cohabitans and Megaselia furvicolor from colonies of Dorylus (Anomma) nigricans subspecies molestus in Malawi. H. cohabitans, along with Aenigmatopoeus kohli, is also recorded from a colony of Dorylus (Anomma) wilverthi in Angola. From Brazil new termite host records reported are Dohrniphora correlata with Cornitermes weberi and Nasutitermes cf. peruanus, D. divaricata with N. tatarendae and D. paraguayana with Cornitermes weberi. Summaries of all records of Phoridae recorded with Ecitoninae, Dorylinae and Neotropical termites are given.

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A New Species of Myrmedonota from Papua-New Guinea with the First Specific Host Record (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Lomechusini)

By David H. Kistner

ABSTRACT

Myrmedonota papyriomyrmecis is described from Wau, Papua-New Guinea and its host given as Papyrius nitidus. Brief redescriptions of M. cingulata and M. malayana are given with the first illustrations of each species. The nest of P. nitidus in which the new species was found is described and the location of the myrmecophiles explained. M. papyriomyrmecis is a scavenger. Future research should compare the genus Myrmedonota with Dabra and Dabrasoma from Australia which have also been recorded from Papyrius sp. (as Iridomyrmex). A key to all species is provided.

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Abundance and Distribution of Subterranean Termites in Southern Mississippi Forests (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

By Changlu Wang, Janine E. Powell & Rudolf H. Scheffrahn

Note: An incorrect figure was accidently substituted for Figure 3 on page 540 in the manuscript. The correct figure has been inserted in Sociobiology 42(3) page 622.

ABSTRACT

Termites were surveyed in pine and mixed forests in 4 southern Mississippi counties during 1999-2000. Branches, logs, and stumps in eleven plots were examined for termite activities. Pine stakes were installed in soil plots at 5 m intervals. They were examined for signs of termite infestation and foraging termites at 4.5, 10.5, and 16 months after installation. Three subterranean termite species in the family Rhinotermitidae, namely, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), Reticulitermes virginicus Banks, and Reticulitermes hageni Banks were observed from dead wood materials and the installed pine stakes in each of the 4 counties. Reticulitermes flavipes was the most abundant species with an average percentage from 39.4% to 66.5% of the termite occurrences in pine stakes installed in the forests. There was not a detectable significant difference between the relative abundances of the three termite species among the 4 counties (P > 0.05). Termite infestation rates varied with the sizes of the wood materials. The small wood materials (1.9-2.9 cm diameter) had a significantly lower infestation rate than the larger wood materials (≥ 3 cm diameter). Among the wood materials of ≥ 3 cm diameter, 68.2% to 79.6% had signs of termite damage and 29.5% to 39.9% had foraging termites. The cumulative percentage of stakes attacked by termites escalated as the duration of the stakes after installation increased. The average percentages of stakes with signs of termite activity were 44.4%, 64.2%, and 80.5% at 4.5, 10.5, and 16 months after installation, respectively. The average percentages of stakes with foraging termites were 32.7%, 35.8%, and 47.7% at 4.5, 10.5, and 16 months after installation, respectively,

KEY WORDS: Reticulitermes flavipes, Reticulitermes virginicus, Reticulitermes hageni, wood infestation.


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