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| A '''myrmecophile''' is an organism that lives in association with ]s. '''Myrmecophily''' literally means ''ant-loving'' and refers to the habits of species that have mutualistic associations with |
A '''myrmecophile''' is an organism that lives in association with ]s. '''Myrmecophily''' literally means ''ant-loving'' and refers to the habits of species that have ] associations with ants. | ||
| Such associations are best known in the butterflies of the family ] but many non-insect species are also considered myrmecophilous or semi-myrmecophilous. | Such associations are best known in the butterflies of the family ], but many non-insect species are also considered myrmecophilous or semi-myrmecophilous. | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| The myrmecophile's role varies; many consume the ants' leftover food, dead ants or larvae, or types of ] growing in the nest. The first major work in cataloguing ] myrmecophiles was done by ] in his 1927 book '']''. | The myrmecophile's role varies; many consume the ants' leftover food, dead ants or larvae, or types of ] growing in the nest. The first major work in cataloguing ] myrmecophiles was done by ] in his 1927 book '']''. | ||
Revision as of 21:01, 8 June 2007
A myrmecophile is an organism that lives in association with ants. Myrmecophily literally means ant-loving and refers to the habits of species that have mutualistic associations with ants.
Such associations are best known in the butterflies of the family Lycaenidae, but many non-insect species are also considered myrmecophilous or semi-myrmecophilous.
The myrmecophile's role varies; many consume the ants' leftover food, dead ants or larvae, or types of fungi growing in the nest. 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 also seen in various other insects such as aphids, 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.
Ant-butterfly interactions are particularly well studied. The association is believed to reduce the parasitization of the butterfly caterpillars. These associations involve nectar production by specialized organs on the caterpillars and communication through sound and vibrations.
Myrmecophilous beetles are largely of the families Cholevidae, Pselaphidae, Staphylinidae and Ptiliidae.
Some mites and spiders are also myrmecophilous. Some oribatid mites have been found to obligate myrmecophiles.
Several myrmecophilous groups are also see in the dipteran flies.
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) - 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) - 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) - 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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