Cryptic Diversity in Colombian Edible Leaf-Cutting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Leaf-cutting ants are often considered agricultural pests, but they can also benefit local people and serve important roles in ecosystems. Throughout their distribution, winged reproductive queens of leaf-cutting ants in the genus <i>Atta</i> Fabricius, 1804 are consumed as a protein-ric...
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MDPI AG
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/9/4/191 |
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| author | Pepijn W. Kooij Bryn M. Dentinger David A. Donoso Jonathan Z. Shik Ester Gaya |
| author_facet | Pepijn W. Kooij Bryn M. Dentinger David A. Donoso Jonathan Z. Shik Ester Gaya |
| author_sort | Pepijn W. Kooij |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Leaf-cutting ants are often considered agricultural pests, but they can also benefit local people and serve important roles in ecosystems. Throughout their distribution, winged reproductive queens of leaf-cutting ants in the genus <i>Atta</i> Fabricius, 1804 are consumed as a protein-rich food source and sometimes used for medical purposes. Little is known, however, about the species identity of collected ants and the accuracy of identification when ants are sold, ambiguities that may impact the conservation status of <i>Atta</i> species as well as the nutritional value that they provide to consumers. Here, 21 samples of fried ants bought in San Gil, Colombia, were identified to species level using Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) barcoding sequences. DNA was extracted from these fried samples using standard Chelex extraction methods, followed by phylogenetic analyses with an additional 52 new sequences from wild ant colonies collected in Panama and 251 publicly available sequences. Most analysed samples corresponded to <i>Atta laevigata</i> (Smith, 1858), even though one sample was identified as <i>Atta colombica</i> Guérin-Méneville, 1844 and another one formed a distinct branch on its own, more closely related to <i>Atta texana</i> (Buckley, 1860) and <i>Atta mexicana</i> (Smith, 1858). Analyses further confirm paraphyly within <i>Atta sexdens</i> (Linnaeus, 1758) and <i>A. laevigata</i> clades. Further research is needed to assess the nutritional value of the different species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:03:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2c54b1a272484e2eae6097ebd363940d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:03:31Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-2c54b1a272484e2eae6097ebd363940d2022-12-22T02:47:43ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502018-12-019419110.3390/insects9040191insects9040191Cryptic Diversity in Colombian Edible Leaf-Cutting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Pepijn W. Kooij0Bryn M. Dentinger1David A. Donoso2Jonathan Z. Shik3Ester Gaya4Comparative Fungal Biology, Department of Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3DS, UKNatural History Museum of Utah, University of Utah, 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USADepartamento de Biología, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Av. Ladrón de Guevara E11-253, Quito 17-01-2759, EcuadorCentre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, DenmarkComparative Fungal Biology, Department of Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3DS, UKLeaf-cutting ants are often considered agricultural pests, but they can also benefit local people and serve important roles in ecosystems. Throughout their distribution, winged reproductive queens of leaf-cutting ants in the genus <i>Atta</i> Fabricius, 1804 are consumed as a protein-rich food source and sometimes used for medical purposes. Little is known, however, about the species identity of collected ants and the accuracy of identification when ants are sold, ambiguities that may impact the conservation status of <i>Atta</i> species as well as the nutritional value that they provide to consumers. Here, 21 samples of fried ants bought in San Gil, Colombia, were identified to species level using Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) barcoding sequences. DNA was extracted from these fried samples using standard Chelex extraction methods, followed by phylogenetic analyses with an additional 52 new sequences from wild ant colonies collected in Panama and 251 publicly available sequences. Most analysed samples corresponded to <i>Atta laevigata</i> (Smith, 1858), even though one sample was identified as <i>Atta colombica</i> Guérin-Méneville, 1844 and another one formed a distinct branch on its own, more closely related to <i>Atta texana</i> (Buckley, 1860) and <i>Atta mexicana</i> (Smith, 1858). Analyses further confirm paraphyly within <i>Atta sexdens</i> (Linnaeus, 1758) and <i>A. laevigata</i> clades. Further research is needed to assess the nutritional value of the different species.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/9/4/191<i>Atta</i>AttiniCytochrome Oxidase Ifungus-growing ants<i>hormigas culonas</i>nutritionpest managementphylogenyspecies complextaxonomy |
| spellingShingle | Pepijn W. Kooij Bryn M. Dentinger David A. Donoso Jonathan Z. Shik Ester Gaya Cryptic Diversity in Colombian Edible Leaf-Cutting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Insects <i>Atta</i> Attini Cytochrome Oxidase I fungus-growing ants <i>hormigas culonas</i> nutrition pest management phylogeny species complex taxonomy |
| title | Cryptic Diversity in Colombian Edible Leaf-Cutting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_full | Cryptic Diversity in Colombian Edible Leaf-Cutting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_fullStr | Cryptic Diversity in Colombian Edible Leaf-Cutting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cryptic Diversity in Colombian Edible Leaf-Cutting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_short | Cryptic Diversity in Colombian Edible Leaf-Cutting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_sort | cryptic diversity in colombian edible leaf cutting ants hymenoptera formicidae |
| topic | <i>Atta</i> Attini Cytochrome Oxidase I fungus-growing ants <i>hormigas culonas</i> nutrition pest management phylogeny species complex taxonomy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/9/4/191 |
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