Showing papers on "Lasius published in 2020"
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that ant-derived actinobacteria represented an underexplored bioresource library of diverse and novel taxa that may be of potential interest in the discovery of new agroactive compounds.
Abstract: Actinobacteria associated with insects represent one potentially rich source of novel natural products with antifungal activity. Here, we investigated the phylogenetic diversity and community composition of actinobacteria associated with ants using a combination of culture-dependent and -independent methods. Further, we assessed the antagonistic activity against phytopathogenic fungi and identified the secondary metabolites from isolates with bioactivity. A total of 416 actinobacterial isolates were obtained from three ant species (Camponotus japonicus, Lasius fuliginosus, and Lasius flavus) located in five nests. The largest amount of isolates were observed in the head samples. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the isolates were diverse and belonged to ten genera within the phylum Actinobacteria, with Streptomyces and Micromonospora comprising the most abundant genera. High-throughput sequencing analyses revealed that the actinobacterial communities were more diverse and dominated by the families Nocardioidaceae, Nocardiaceae, Dermacoccaceae, Intrasporangiaceae, and Streptomycetaceae. In addition, 52.3% of the representative isolates had inhibitory properties against phytopathogenic fungi. Chemical analysis of one Streptomyces strain led to the discovery of two known compounds and one new compound. These results demonstrated that ant-derived actinobacteria represented an underexplored bioresource library of diverse and novel taxa that may be of potential interest in the discovery of new agroactive compounds.
23 citations
TL;DR: Based on material collected between the years 1988-2015 numerous new province and country records of ants from Turkey are given, which showed that the ant fauna of Turkey is represented currently with 362 taxa.
Abstract: Based on material collected between the years 1988-2015 numerous new province and country records of ants from Turkey are given. A total of 143 ant species were listed of which six: Cataglyphis machmalRadchenko & Arakelian, 1991, Lasius illyricus Zimmerman, 1935, Monomorium barbatulumMayr, 1877, Myrmica caucasicolaArnol'di, 1934, Temnothorax clypeatus (Mayr, 1853) and Temnothorax rogeriEmery, 1869 are new for Turkish ant fauna. Based on most recent taxonomic data and studies on distributional patterns we also excluded from Turkish ant fauna fifteen species: Bothriomyrmex corsicus Santschi, 1923, Anoplolepis gracilipes (F. Smith, 1857), Cataglyphis cursor (Fonscolombe, 1846), C. rubra (Forel, 1903), Lasius paralienusSeifert, 1992, Plagiolepis pallescens mauraSantschi, 1920, Proformica nasuta (Nylander, 1856), Aphaenogaster semipolita (Nylander, 1856), A. testaceopilosa (Lucas, 1849), Crematogaster aubertiEmery, 1869, C. scutellaris (Oliver, 1792), Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius, 1804), Temnothorax nylanderi (Forster, 1850), T. crassispinus (Karavaiev, 1926) and Tetramorium semilaeveAndre, 1883. Taxonomic position and new species names which were given in publications following the first Turkish checklist in 2012 are also discussed. The available faunal data showed that the ant fauna of Turkey is represented currently with 362 taxa.
19 citations
TL;DR: Using pairwise preference tests, it is found that Lasius niger ants can successfully learn at least two, and likely three, odour/quality associations, requiring as little as one exposure to each combination in order for learning to take place.
Abstract: Insects can be very good learners. For example, they can form associations between a cue and a reward after only one exposure. Discrimination learning, in which multiple cues are associated with different outcomes, is critical for responding correctly complex environments. However, the extent of such discrimination learning is not well explored. Studies concerning discrimination learning within one valence are also rare. Here we ask whether Lasius niger ants can form multiple concurrent associations to different reward levels, and how rapidly such associations can be learned. We allowed individual workers to sequentially feed on up to four different food qualities, each associated with a different odour cue. Using pairwise preference tests, we found that ants can successfully learn at least two, and likely three, odour/quality associations, requiring as little as one exposure to each combination in order for learning to take place. By testing preference between two non-extreme values (i.e. between 0.4 M and 0.8 M having been trained to the qualities 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6) we exclude the possibility that ants are only memorising the best and worst values in a set. Such rapid learning of multiple associations, within one valence and one modality, is impressive, and makes Lasius niger a very tractable model for complex training paradigms.
16 citations
TL;DR: The first bio-inventory of the ant fauna of the Aeolian Islands, a Sicilian volcanic archipelago formed within the last million years, was presented in this paper.
14 citations
TL;DR: This is the first study showing the impact of honey bee viruses on ants, and shows that L. niger and L. platythorax are alternative hosts of ABPV, possibly acting as a biological vector ofABPV and as a mechanical one for DWV.
Abstract: Emerging infectious diseases are often the products of host shifts, where a pathogen jumps from its original host to a novel species. Viruses in particular cross species barriers frequently. Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) and deformed wing virus (DWV) are viruses described in honey bees (Apis mellifera) with broad host ranges. Ants scavenging on dead honey bees may get infected with these viruses via foodborne transmission. However, the role of black garden ants, Lasius niger and Lasius platythorax, as alternative hosts of ABPV and DWV is not known and potential impacts of these viruses have not been addressed yet. In a laboratory feeding experiment, we show that L. niger can carry DWV and ABPV. However, negative-sense strand RNA, a token of virus replication, was only detected for ABPV. Therefore, additional L. niger colonies were tested for clinical symptoms of ABPV infections. Symptoms were detected at colony (fewer emerging workers) and individual level (impaired locomotion and movement speed). In a field survey, all L. platythorax samples carried ABPV, DWV-A and –B, as well as the negative-sense strand RNA of ABPV. These results show that L. niger and L. platythorax are alternative hosts of ABPV, possibly acting as a biological vector of ABPV and as a mechanical one for DWV. This is the first study showing the impact of honey bee viruses on ants. The common virus infections of ants in the field support possible negative consequences for ecosystem functioning due to host shifts.
12 citations
TL;DR: In this study, the microbial communities of two nests of black garden ants in the hollows of stem branches of old apple trees were found to have similar species compositions: each community contained representatives of three species from the Bacillaceae family and one species of actinomycetes from the genus Streptomyces.
Abstract: In this study, the microbial communities of two nests of black garden ants (Lasius niger) in the hollows of stem branches of old apple trees were found to have similar species compositions: each community contained representatives of three species from the Bacillaceae family and one species of actinomycetes from the genus Streptomyces In total, four types of bacilli and two actinomycetes were isolated Actinomycetes were identified as Streptomyces antibioticus-like and Streptomyces sp None of the bacilli had antibiotic activity, whereas both streptomycetes produced antibiotics that inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria in vitro, including isolates from their community Antibiotic compounds of S antibioticus-like strain INA 01148 (Institute of New Antibiotics) were identified as actinomycin D and its closest homologue, actinomycin A Actinomycins presumably change the microbial community of the ant nest substrate as they act against Gram-positive bacteria and against fungi and Gram-negative bacteria The antibiotic activity of the isolated Streptomyces sp INA 01156 is of interest, since the substances produced by this strain inhibit the growth of drug-resistant bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus INA 00761 (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant strain Leuconostoc mesenteroides VKPM B-4177 (VR) (VKPM-National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (Russian acronym))
9 citations
TL;DR: This multi-species study shows the relevance of non-consumptive effects for intraguild interactions and highlights the importance of experimental trait-based approaches to improve predictability of species interactions and the role of NCE in ecological communities.
Abstract: Predator non-consumptive effects (NCE) are a suite of phenotypic responses of prey to avoid predation that cascade down food webs and can have a stronger impact than predation itself. However, the role of NCE in intraguild interactions remains understudied. Thus, multi-species experiments based on species traits are needed to improve our understanding of the impact of NCE on community structure. We investigated NCE of ants on 17 spider species as intraguild prey (8 cursorial and 9 sedentary) to test the influence of spider hunting mode on the strength of NCE. Sedentary spiders select a habitat patch and wait for prey, whereas cursorial spiders roam around searching for prey. Because actively foraging organisms have higher encounter rates with predators, cursorial spiders should show stronger reactions to ant presence. We collected cues (footprint hydrocarbons) of the black garden ant Lasius niger on filter papers. Then, we placed spiders individually on the papers and filmed their behaviour once on a paper with cues and once on a cue-free one. We used the increase in walking activity in the presence of cues as an indicator of avoidance behaviour towards ants. Cursorial spiders spent a longer time moving and being mobile, and had a higher overall mean mobility when exposed to ant cues compared with blank filter papers, whereas sedentary spider species did not react to ant cues at all. The avoidance of ant cues by cursorial spiders corresponds to their higher risk of encountering ants compared with sedentary species, in accordance with the threat-sensitivity hypothesis. Our multi-species study shows the relevance of NCE for intraguild interactions and highlights the importance of experimental trait-based approaches to improve predictability of species interactions and the role of NCE in ecological communities.
8 citations
TL;DR: Larvae and adults preferred dead prey, but no significant preference was detected among dead prey taxa, supporting the hypothesis that the two species are opportunistic scavengers.
Abstract: Conservation of threatened animals is frequently limited by lack of knowledge about their ecological preferences, and often artificial feeding is one of the few chances to save endangered species. We investigated the possibility to artificially feed two endangered flat bark beetles dependent on dead wood for their diet-namely, Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763) and Cucujus haematodes Erichson, 1845-by examining their dietary preferences, life cycle duration, and survival in laboratory conditions. Individuals of the two species were caught in the wild and larvae and adults were fed in laboratory conditions by live or dead prey. Three species of saproxylic beetles: two cerambycids (Acanthocinus griseus Fabricius, 1793 and Rhagium inquisitor Linnaeus, 1758), one scolytid (Ips sexdentatus Borner, 1776) one tenebrionid (Tenebrio molitor (Linnaeus, 1758)) one dipteran (Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826)) and one ant (Lasius sp. Fabricius, 1804) were used as prey, with minced meat as a control. Our results indicated high survival and no difference in prey choice between the two flat beetle species. Larvae and adults preferred dead prey, but no significant preference was detected among dead prey taxa, supporting the hypothesis that the two species are opportunistic scavengers. Comparing data with previous results, both species and their developmental stages should be classified as obligate saproxylic organisms with preference to the dead and decaying organic material. Successful artificial feeding and rearing of these endangered species, followed by the release in the wild through rescue or reintroduction programs, therefore appear relevant for their protection and future conservation.
8 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that monomorphic workers of certain body sizes are flexible in the choice of task they perform, and food type may be the important determinant of this choice.
Abstract: The association between the division of labour and worker body size of ants is typical for species that maintain physical castes. Some studies showed that this phenomenon can be also observed in the absence of distinct morphological subcastes among workers. However, the general and consistent patterns in the size-based division of labour in monomorphic ants are largely unidentified. In this study, we performed a field experiment to investigate the link between worker body size and the division of labour of the ant Lasius niger (Linnaeus, 1758), which displays limited worker size variation. We demonstrated that the body size of workers exploring tuna baits is slightly but significantly smaller than the size of workers located in the upper parts of the nest. Comparing the present results with existing studies, large workers do not seem to be dedicated to work outside the nest. We suggest that monomorphic workers of certain body sizes are flexible in the choice of task they perform, and food type may be the important determinant of this choice.
8 citations
TL;DR: This study reconstructed the molecular phylogeny of Japanese Stomaphis aphids and determined whether host shifting or mutualistic association with different ant species could explain diversification in this aphid genus, suggesting that Stomphis evolutionarily diversified primarily through host plant shifts.
Abstract: Phytophagous insects are among the most diverse of the earth's organisms, and their diversification patterns and the driving forces behind these have attracted considerable research interest. Host shifting to closely related plant species is thought to play an important role in phytophagous insect diversification, but the extent to which other interactions such as mutualistic associations affect diversification is not yet known. In this study, we reconstructed the molecular phylogeny of Japanese Stomaphis aphids and determined whether host shifting or mutualistic association with different ant species could explain diversification in this aphid genus. We analyzed 12 species of Stomaphis and grouped them into ten well-supported DNA lineages. Species in each lineage used a single or a few host plant species, but were mutualistically associated with many ant species of the genus Lasius. This result suggests that Stomaphis evolutionarily diversified primarily through host plant shifts. Interestingly, the reconstructed phylogeny suggests that Stomaphis host shifts occasionally occurred between very distantly related host plant taxa (spanning up to five plant orders). The dependence of Stomaphis on long-lasting Lasius ant colonies situated in temperate deciduous forests where Lasius is the dominant ant genus may have led the aphids to shift to distantly related but spatially adjacent host tree species.
7 citations
TL;DR: Results indicate colony co-founding in ants may actually be an active process resulting from mutual attraction among queens, and under natural conditions, ecological constraints may limit encounters among newly mated queens.
Abstract: Cooperative breeding may be selected for in animals when, on average, it confers greater benefits than solitary breeding. In a number of eusocial insects (i.e., ants, bees, wasps, and termites), queens join together to co-create new nests, a phenomenon known as colony co-founding. It has been hypothesised that co-founding evolved because queens obtain several fitness benefits. However, in ants, previous work has suggested that co-founding is a random process that results from high queen density and low nest-site availability. We experimentally examined nest-founding behaviour in the black garden ant, Lasius niger. We gave newly mated queens the choice between two empty nesting chambers, and compared their distribution across the two chambers with that expected under random allocation. We found that queens formed associations of various sizes; in most instances, queens group together in a single chamber. Across all experiments, the frequency of larger groups of queens was significantly higher than expected given random assortment. These results indicate colony co-founding in ants may actually be an active process resulting from mutual attraction among queens. That said, under natural conditions, ecological constraints may limit encounters among newly mated queens.
TL;DR: In this article, the behavioral mechanisms involved in the interspecific competition between Linepithema humile and Lasius neglectus Van Loon, Boomsma and Andrasfalvy were investigated.
Abstract: Within ant communities, the biotic resistance of native species against invasive ones is expected to be rare, because invasive species are often highly dominant competitors. The invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile (Mayr)) often demonstrated numerical dominance against its opponents, increased aggressiveness, and ability to quickly recruit to food. The present study aimed to assess the behavioral mechanisms involved in the interspecific competition between L. humile, facing either an invasive species (Lasius neglectus Van Loon, Boomsma and Andrasfalvy) or a native dominant species (Lasius niger (Linnaeus)). The resource exploitation by the Argentine ant was investigated during one-hour competitive interactions using 10 dead Drosophila flies as prey. When facing La. niger, L. humile exploratory behavior was strongly inhibited, it brought very few prey resources, and killed few opponents. Conversely, La. neglectus had a low impact on L. humile. Contrarily to expectations, the invasive La. neglectus lacked the ability to hinder L. humile resource exploitation, whereas the native La. niger did. These results suggest that La. niger could impact invasive populations of L. humile by interference competition, perhaps better so than some invasive species. While L. humile has become invasive in Southern Europe, the invasion process could be slowed down in the northern latitudes by such native dominant species.
TL;DR: The results highlight that organism and superorganism size are controlled by the same nutrients, and this may reflect a common molecular basis for size across life's organizational levels.
Abstract: In this study, we used two common ant species (Lasius niger and Lasius neoniger) to assay how they translate variation in the diet (both in composition and frequency) into growth. We measured colony development for over 8 months and measured several phenotypic traits of the worker caste, and examined whether forager preference corresponded with diet quality. Optimal colony growth was a balance between survival and growth, and each of these was maximized with different nutrient regimes. Interestingly, forager preference was not totally aligned with the diet that maximized colony growth. Our results highlight that: (a) organism and superorganism size are controlled by the same nutrients, and this may reflect a common molecular basis for size across life's organizational levels, (b) there are nutrient trade-offs that are associated with life-history trade-offs, likely leading to selection for a balanced diet, and (c) the connection between the preference of foragers for different nutrients and how nutrient combinations affect colony success and demographics are complex and only beginning to be understood.
TL;DR: A new species of Diartiger wangzheni Yin & He, sp.
Abstract: Diartiger wangzheni Yin & He, sp. nov. is diagnosed, described, and illustrated based on a male specimen collected in Sichuan, southwestern China. The new species was found in association with Lasius ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) under a flat rock. An updated key to the males of Diartiger species known from China is provided.
TL;DR: Five species of the genus Petalomium Cross were collected from ants of the genera Camponotus, Lasius and Messor, including three new to arthropod fauna of Iran, and world distributions and host records of all the congeners are reviewed.
Abstract: The prostigmatic mites including Heterostigmata (Acari: Trombidiformes) comprise one of the most myrmecophilous mite lineages. One of the well known heterostigmatic ant-associates genus is Petalomium (Pygmephoroidea: Neopygmephoridae). In an investigation on ant-associate mites in some parts of central and southern Iran, five species of the genus Petalomium Cross were collected from ants of the genera Camponotus, Lasius and Messor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). One new species, P. olszanowskiisp. nov., is described and illustrated here. The other species include P. aleinikovae (Sevastianov, 1967), P. crinitusKhaustov and Trach, 2013, P. formicarum (Berlese, 1903), and P. gottrauxiMahunka, 1977. Except the latter, all species are new to arthropod fauna of Iran. In addition, P. aleinikovae is redescribed, and world distributions and host records of all the congeners are reviewed.
15 Jan 2020
TL;DR: This study highlights the need to understand more fully the interplay of agricultural, food and forest sciences and sustainability in the context of climate change.
Abstract: 1) Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability (SCVSA), University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, I-43124, Parma, Italy. *Corresponding author. E-mail: enrsc8@gmail.com 2) Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, I-90123, Palermo, Italy. 3) Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 5A, I-90128, Palermo, Italy.
TL;DR: Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on partial mitochondrial DNA sequences of P. nawaii found that the parasitoid wasp consists of two highly differentiated genetic lineages, which appear to exhibit different oviposition behaviors adapted to the different aphid-protection strategies of the two ant subgenera.
Abstract: The parasitoid wasp Protaphidius nawaii parasitizes the aphid Stomaphis japonica, which is obligatorily attended by several species of ants of genus Lasius. Subgenus Lasius or Dendrolasius ants use different defense strategies to protect the aphids that they attend (Lasius, shelter building; Dendrolasius, aggressive attack). We performed molecular phylogenetic analysis based on partial mitochondrial DNA sequences of P. nawaii and found that the parasitoid wasp consists of two highly differentiated genetic lineages. Although these two lineages distributed sympatrically, one tends to parasitize aphids attended by ants of subgenus Lasius, and the other parasitizes aphids attended by ants of subgenus Dendrolasius. The two lineages of P. nawaii appear to exhibit different oviposition behaviors adapted to the different aphid-protection strategies of the two ant subgenera.
02 Jul 2020
TL;DR: The results revealed that the physicochemical parameters affected the termite species abundance as station 1 had relatively more of thetermite species than station 2, and also affected the diversity of the termites as station 2 had relatively less diversity than station 1.
Abstract: Termites are generally regarded as pests, although they have some beneficial roles to play in the ecosystem, particularly in the soil. This study was conducted between January 2018 and April 2018, to determine the effect of physico-chemical parametrs on abundance and diversity of termites and other arthropods in termite mounds in Uinversity of Uyo Community. Soil samples were randomly collected from six termite mounds from two sites for physiochemical parameters analysis and these were temperature, pH, moisture content, nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, sodium, potassium, manganese and iron.. The termites and other arthropods were preserved in 70% ethanol. Temperature and moisture content, copper, sodium and iron were significant. The results revealed that the physicochemical parameters affected the termite species abundance as station 1 (539) had relatively more of the termite species than station 2 (551), and also affected the diversity of the termites as station 1 (0.89) had relatively more diversity of the termites than station 2 (0.66). Also from the results, station 1 (2.06) had relatively more diversity of the other arthropod species identified in the study area than station 2 (1.59). Macrotermes bellicosus and Odontermes badius termite species were identified. Musca domestica, Anopheles gambiae, Lasius sp, Archispirostreptus sp, Camponotus sp, Missulena sp, Chorthippus sp, Acheta sp and Blatta orientalis were the other arthropods collected and identified. Macrotermes bellicosus (59.93 %; 63.52 %) was the most abundance and dorminant of the termite species identified in the study areas. Lasius sp (45; 25.93 %)
18 Jun 2020
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the effect of cement dust on mirmecofauna on the territory of village Yamnytsia, Tysmenytsia district, Ivano-Frankivsk region and its vicinity, near the cement plant of PJSC «Ivano-frankivskcement», which is located at different distances from the source of industrial emissions (0, 0.5 km; 1 km; 5.5 kilometres) and 30 km from the village boundary (control).
Abstract: Introduction . Industrial emissions affect the impoverishment of insect fauna not only by reducing their species composition but also by reducing the abundance of dominant species. Aim . Therefore, the goal of the research was to investigate how the cement dust affects species diversity of ants, density and types of anthills. Methods . Investigation of the effect of cement dust on mirmecofauna was carried out on the territory of village Yamnytsia, Tysmenytsia district, Ivano-Frankivsk region and its vicinity, near the cement plant of PJSC «Ivano-Frankivskcement». Meadows and deciduous forests were studied within the village of Yamnytsia, which are located at different distances from the source of cement dust (0; 0.5 km; 1 km; 5.5 km) and 30 km from the village boundary (control). To quantify the species composition of Formica ants, the methods of K. V. Arnoldi were used. Counting of anthills and sampling of ants was performed according to the method of G. M. Dlussky. Anthills were described by the standard method, the account of the building material of the nests was carried out visually, the material was not selected. Results . Analyzing the distribution of ants genera and species on the experimental meadows, we found a direct correlation between the number of ants and the distance from the sources of cement dust (r=0.87 at p<0.05). The largest number of the ant species was observed in the area of influence from the genus Lasius. Myrmica nests are found not closer than 1 km from PJSC «Ivano-Frankivskcement», Formica nests are only in the control. With a decrease in the pollution degree, the proportion of underground nests increases (r=0.90 at p<0.05), the proportion of the dome nests decreases (r=-0.94 at p<0.05). At the same time, the size of dome on average decreases when the distance from the source of pollution grows. All anthills registered in the most polluted zone consist of a mixture of cement dust and earth up to 45 cm high. About 75 % of all nests found were heavily overgrown. Adaptation of the ants to the influence of cement dust differs from other types of impact and is expressed in the fact that in technogenic territories anthills are more often dome-shaped, of smaller diameter and considerably higher than those located in the control zone. This is because the soil near PJSC «Ivano-Frankivskcement» is covered with a layer of the lime dust which reaches 5 cm. Lasius niger is resistant to various forms of the anthropogenic influence, which can be explained by the adaptive features of the anthill forms. Conclusion . Under the influence of emissions from PJSC «Ivano-Frankivskсement», the anthill density of Formica genera is greatly reduced and is dominated by ants of the genera Lasius and Myrmica. The height of the L. niger anthill is inversely proportional to the distance to the source of industrial emissions, and the frequency of occurrence of underground nests of most species is directly proportional to the degree of anthropogenic impact. Keywords: ants; anthropogenic influence; cement dust; Lasius; Myrmica.
25 Nov 2020
TL;DR: The bacterial communities associated with larvae and adults of both L. fuliginosus and P. laticollis formed clusters according to the host’s identity and its developmental stage, and a heightened abundance of Pseudomonas in the insects’ profiles.
Abstract: Myrmecophilous insects depend on their ant hosts during at least part of their life cycle. Lasius ants appear to be primarily involved as host in myrmecophilous interactions, especially with aphids...