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| A '''myrmecophile''' is an organism that lives in association with ]s. '''Myrmecophily''' literally means ''ant-loving'' and refers to the |
A '''myrmecophile''' is an organism that lives in association with ]s. '''Myrmecophily''' literally means ''ant-loving'' and refers to ] associations with ants, though in its more general use the term may also refer other relationships with ants, ones better described as ] or even ]. | ||
| Myrmecophiles may have various roles in their host ant colony. Many consume waste materials in the nests, such as dead ants, dead larvae, or ] growing in the nest. Some myrmecophiles, however, feed on the stored food supplies of ants, and a few are predatory on ant eggs, larvae, or pupae. Others benefit the ants by providing a food source. Many myrmecophilous relationships are obligate, meaning one or the other participant requires the relationship for survival. Some associations are facultative, benefiting one or both participants but not being necessary to their survival. | |||
| Such associations are best known in the butterflies of the family ], but many non-insect species are also considered myrmecophilous or semi-myrmecophilous. | |||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | The first major work in cataloguing ] myrmecophiles was done by ] in his 1927 book ''The Guests of British Ants''. | ||
| Myrmecophilous associations are also seen in various other insects such as ]s, hoppers and also in some arachnids such as mites. These associations can be either obligate or facultative depending on whether the association is necessary for survival or merely of additional benefit. | |||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| Myrmecophilous associations are best known in butterflies of the family ]. Many lycaenid caterpillars produce nectar by specialized organs and communicate with the ants through sound and vibrations. The association with ants is believed to reduce the parasitisation of the butterfly caterpillars.<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |author=H. T. Baumgarten & K. Fiedler |year=1998 |title=Parasitoids of lycaenid butterfly caterpillars: different patterns in resource use and their impact on the hosts' symbiosis with ants |journal=] |volume=236 |pages=167–180}}</ref>but many non-insect species are also considered myrmecophilous or semi-myrmecophilous. | |||
| ⚫ | There are myrmecophilous beetles in the families ], ], ] and ]. Myrmecophilous associations are also seen in various other insects such as ]s, and hoppers, as well as the ] genus '']'' and several other groups of flies..<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |author=I. Brake |year=1999 |title=''Prosaetomilichia'' de Meijere: a junior subjective synonym of ''Milichia'' Meigen, with a phylogenetic review of the myrmecophila species-group |journal=] |volume=142 |issue=1 |pages=31–36}}</ref> | ||
| Myrmecophilous beetles are largely of the families ], ], ] and ]. | |||
| Some mites and spiders are also myrmecophilous |
Some mites and spiders are also myrmecophilous, particularly some oribatid mites, which have been found to be obligate myrmecophiles.<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |author=Paula E. Cushing |year=1997 |title=Myrmecomorphy and myrmecophily in spiders: A review |journal=] |pages=165–193}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |author=F. Ito & G. Takaku |year=1994 |title=Obligate myrmecophily in an oribatid mite. Novel symbiont of ants in the Oriental tropics |journal=] |volume=81 |issue=4 |pages=180–182 |url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/h63505p10l1168q7/}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| Others myremecophiles include | Others myremecophiles include | ||
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| {{ecology-stub}} | {{ecology-stub}} | ||
| {{ant-stub}} | {{ant-stub}} | ||
Revision as of 20:29, 11 June 2007
A myrmecophile is an organism that lives in association with ants. Myrmecophily literally means ant-loving and refers to mutualistic associations with ants, though in its more general use the term may also refer other relationships with ants, ones better described as commensal or even parasitic.
Myrmecophiles may have various roles in their host ant colony. Many consume waste materials in the nests, such as dead ants, dead larvae, or fungi growing in the nest. Some myrmecophiles, however, feed on the stored food supplies of ants, and a few are predatory on ant eggs, larvae, or pupae. Others benefit the ants by providing a food source. Many myrmecophilous relationships are obligate, meaning one or the other participant requires the relationship for survival. Some associations are facultative, benefiting one or both participants but not being necessary to their survival.
The first major work in cataloguing British myrmecophiles was done by Horace Donisthorpe in his 1927 book The Guests of British Ants.
Myrmecophilous associations are best known in butterflies of the family Lycaenidae. Many lycaenid caterpillars produce nectar by specialized organs and communicate with the ants through sound and vibrations. The association with ants is believed to reduce the parasitisation of the butterfly caterpillars.but many non-insect species are also considered myrmecophilous or semi-myrmecophilous.
There are myrmecophilous beetles in the families Cholevidae, Pselaphidae, Staphylinidae and Ptiliidae. Myrmecophilous associations are also seen in various other insects such as aphids, and hoppers, as well as the hoverfly genus Microdon and several other groups of flies..
Some mites and spiders are also myrmecophilous, particularly some oribatid mites, which have been found to be obligate myrmecophiles.
Others myremecophiles include
- the ladybird Thalassa saginata
- the cricket Myrmecophilus kinomurai
- the stratiomyid fly Clitellaria obtusa
- the mollusc Allopeas myrmekophilos
References
- H. T. Baumgarten & K. Fiedler (1998). "Parasitoids of lycaenid butterfly caterpillars: different patterns in resource use and their impact on the hosts' symbiosis with ants". Zoologischer Anzeiger. 236: 167–180.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|quotes=ignored (help) - I. Brake (1999). "Prosaetomilichia de Meijere: a junior subjective synonym of Milichia Meigen, with a phylogenetic review of the myrmecophila species-group ". Tijdschrift voor Entomologie. 142 (1): 31–36.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|quotes=ignored (help) - Paula E. Cushing (1997). "Myrmecomorphy and myrmecophily in spiders: A review". Florida Entomologist: 165–193.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|quotes=ignored (help) - F. Ito & G. Takaku (1994). "Obligate myrmecophily in an oribatid mite. Novel symbiont of ants in the Oriental tropics". Naturwissenschaften. 81 (4): 180–182.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|quotes=ignored (help) - V. Witte, R. Janssen, A. Eppenstein & U. Maschwitz (2002). "Allopeas myrmekophilos (Gastropoda, Pulmonata), the first myrmecophilous mollusc living in colonies of the ponerine army ant Leptogenys distinguenda (Formicidae, Ponerinae)". Insectes Sociaux. 49 (4): 301–305.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|quotes=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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