AI Article Synopsis
- The study identifies Nylanderia deceptrix as the first known social parasite within the genus Nylanderia, which includes over 130 species and subspecies.
- It highlights that obligate social parasitic ants rely on host species, lacking a sterile worker caste and depending on the host for survival and brood care.
- The research investigates both Nylanderia deceptrix and its host, Nylanderia parvula, to enhance understanding of their ecological relationship.
Article Abstract
Obligately socially parasitic ants are social parasites that typically lack the sterile worker caste, and depend on the host species for survival and brood care. The genus Nylanderia has over 130 described species and subspecies, none of which, until this study, were known social parasites. Here we describe the first social parasite known in the genus, Nylanderia deceptrix. Aspects of the biology of the host species, Nylanderia parvula (Mayr 1870), and Nylanderia deceptrix are examined. The data from both the host and the parasite species are combined to better understand the host-parasite relationship.
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Source |
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740849 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.552.6475 | DOI Listing |
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