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The rediscovery of the putative ant social parasite Manica parasitica syn. nov. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) reveals an unexpected endoparasite syndrome

Prebus, Matthew ; Georgiev, Boyko B.; van de Kamp, Thomas ORCID iD icon 1,2; Hamann, Elias ORCID iD icon 2; Baker, Iyla; Rabeling, Christian
1 Laboratorium für Applikationen der Synchrotronstrahlung (LAS), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
2 Institut für Photonenforschung und Synchrotronstrahlung (IPS), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

Abstract:

Parasitism is ubiquitous across the tree of life, and parasites comprise approximately half of all animal species. Social insect colonies attract many pathogens, endo- and ectoparasites, and are exploited by social parasites, which usurp the social environment of their hosts for survival and reproduction. Exploitation by parasites and pathogens versus social parasites may cause similar behavioural and morphological modifications of the host. Ants possess two overlapping syndromes: the endo- and social parasite syndromes. We rediscovered two populations of the putative social parasite Manica parasitica in the Sierra Nevada, and tested the hypothesis that M. parasitica is an independently evolving social parasite. We evaluated traits used to discriminate M. parasitica from its host Manica bradleyi, and examined the morphology of M. parasitica in the context of ant parasitic syndromes. We find that M. parasitica is not a social parasite. Instead, M. parasitica represents cestode-infected M. bradleyi. We propose that M. parasitica should be regarded as a junior synonym of M. bradleyi. Our results emphasize that an integrative approach is essential for unravelling the complex life histories of social insects and their symbionts.


Verlagsausgabe §
DOI: 10.5445/IR/1000167340
Veröffentlicht am 19.01.2024
Originalveröffentlichung
DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0399
Scopus
Zitationen: 2
Web of Science
Zitationen: 1
Dimensions
Zitationen: 3
Cover der Publikation
Zugehörige Institution(en) am KIT Institut für Photonenforschung und Synchrotronstrahlung (IPS)
Laboratorium für Applikationen der Synchrotronstrahlung (LAS)
Publikationstyp Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Publikationsmonat/-jahr 12.2023
Sprache Englisch
Identifikator ISSN: 1744-957X, 1744-9561
KITopen-ID: 1000167340
HGF-Programm 56.13.11 (POF IV, LK 01) Building Blocks of Life: Structure and Function
Erschienen in Biology Letters
Verlag The Royal Society
Band 19
Heft 12
Seiten Art.-Nr.: 20230399
Vorab online veröffentlicht am 20.12.2023
Nachgewiesen in Web of Science
Dimensions
Scopus
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