Fine tuning of social integration by two myrmecophiles of the ponerine army ant, leptogenys distinguenda
Myrmecophiles are animals that live in close association with ants and that frequently develop elaborate mechanisms to infiltrate their well-defended host societies. We compare the social integration strategies of two myrmecophilic species, the spider, Gamasomorpha maschwitzi, and the newly describe...
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| Format: | Article |
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Springer Verlag
2009
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| author | Hashim, Rosli Schulz, S. Witte, V. Foitzik, S. Maschwitz, U. |
| author_facet | Hashim, Rosli Schulz, S. Witte, V. Foitzik, S. Maschwitz, U. |
| author_sort | Hashim, Rosli |
| collection | UM |
| description | Myrmecophiles are animals that live in close association with ants and that frequently develop elaborate mechanisms to infiltrate their well-defended host societies. We compare the social integration strategies of two myrmecophilic species, the spider, Gamasomorpha maschwitzi, and the newly described silverfish, Malayatelura ponerophila gen. n. sp. n., into colonies of the ponerine army ant, Leptogenys distinguenda (Emery) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Both symbionts use chemical mimicry through adoption of host cuticular hydrocarbons. Exchange experiments between L. distinguenda and an undetermined Leptogenys species demonstrate that reduced aggression toward alien ants and increased social acceptance occurred with individuals of higher chemical similarity in their cuticular hydrocarbon profiles. We found striking differences in chemical and behavioral strategies between the two myrmecophiles. Spider cuticular hydrocarbon profiles were chemically less similar to the host than silverfish profiles were. Nevertheless, spiders received significantly fewer attacks from host ants and survived longer in laboratory colonies, whereas silverfish were treated with high aggression and were killed more frequently. When discovered and confronted by the host, silverfish tended to escape and were chased aggressively, whereas spiders remained in contact with the confronting host ant until aggression ceased. Thus, spiders relied less on chemical mimicry but were nevertheless accepted more frequently by the host on the basis of behavioral mechanisms. These findings give insights into the fine tuning of social integration mechanisms and show the significance of qualitative differences among strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T05:21:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | um.eprints-8329 |
| institution | Universiti Malaya |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T05:21:03Z |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| publisher | Springer Verlag |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | um.eprints-83292019-05-31T04:40:53Z http://eprints.um.edu.my/8329/ Fine tuning of social integration by two myrmecophiles of the ponerine army ant, leptogenys distinguenda Hashim, Rosli Schulz, S. Witte, V. Foitzik, S. Maschwitz, U. QH301 Biology Myrmecophiles are animals that live in close association with ants and that frequently develop elaborate mechanisms to infiltrate their well-defended host societies. We compare the social integration strategies of two myrmecophilic species, the spider, Gamasomorpha maschwitzi, and the newly described silverfish, Malayatelura ponerophila gen. n. sp. n., into colonies of the ponerine army ant, Leptogenys distinguenda (Emery) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Both symbionts use chemical mimicry through adoption of host cuticular hydrocarbons. Exchange experiments between L. distinguenda and an undetermined Leptogenys species demonstrate that reduced aggression toward alien ants and increased social acceptance occurred with individuals of higher chemical similarity in their cuticular hydrocarbon profiles. We found striking differences in chemical and behavioral strategies between the two myrmecophiles. Spider cuticular hydrocarbon profiles were chemically less similar to the host than silverfish profiles were. Nevertheless, spiders received significantly fewer attacks from host ants and survived longer in laboratory colonies, whereas silverfish were treated with high aggression and were killed more frequently. When discovered and confronted by the host, silverfish tended to escape and were chased aggressively, whereas spiders remained in contact with the confronting host ant until aggression ceased. Thus, spiders relied less on chemical mimicry but were nevertheless accepted more frequently by the host on the basis of behavioral mechanisms. These findings give insights into the fine tuning of social integration mechanisms and show the significance of qualitative differences among strategies. Springer Verlag 2009 Article PeerReviewed Hashim, Rosli and Schulz, S. and Witte, V. and Foitzik, S. and Maschwitz, U. (2009) Fine tuning of social integration by two myrmecophiles of the ponerine army ant, leptogenys distinguenda. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 35 (3). pp. 355-367. ISSN 0098-0331, DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-009-9606-8 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-009-9606-8>. http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs10886-009-9606-8.pdf doi:10.1007/s10886-009-9606-8 |
| spellingShingle | QH301 Biology Hashim, Rosli Schulz, S. Witte, V. Foitzik, S. Maschwitz, U. Fine tuning of social integration by two myrmecophiles of the ponerine army ant, leptogenys distinguenda |
| title | Fine tuning of social integration by two myrmecophiles of the ponerine army ant, leptogenys distinguenda |
| title_full | Fine tuning of social integration by two myrmecophiles of the ponerine army ant, leptogenys distinguenda |
| title_fullStr | Fine tuning of social integration by two myrmecophiles of the ponerine army ant, leptogenys distinguenda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fine tuning of social integration by two myrmecophiles of the ponerine army ant, leptogenys distinguenda |
| title_short | Fine tuning of social integration by two myrmecophiles of the ponerine army ant, leptogenys distinguenda |
| title_sort | fine tuning of social integration by two myrmecophiles of the ponerine army ant leptogenys distinguenda |
| topic | QH301 Biology |
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