TY  - JOUR
AU  - Vantaux, A.
AU  - Roux, O.
AU  - Magro, A.
AU  - Ghomsi, N.T.
AU  - Gordon, R.D.
AU  - Dejean, A.
AU  - Orivel, J.
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Host-Specific Myrmecophily and Myrmecophagy in the Tropical Coccinellid Diomus thoracicus in French Guiana
T2  - Biotropica
JO  - Biotropica
SP  - 622
EP  - 629
VL  - 42
IS  - 5
PB  - WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC
KW  - ants
KW  - ladybird
KW  - mimicry
KW  - parasite
KW  - Wasmannia auropunctata
N2  - A variety of arthropods, particularly insects, have developed myrmecophilous interactions with ants to gain access to resources and/or for protection. Among these myrmecophiles, only a few examples have been documented in the Coccinellidae, most of them involving species able to feed on ant-tended Hemiptera. We report here a new case of obligate myrmecophily in the coccinellid Diomus thoracicus. Larvae are invariably and exclusively found in the nests of the ant Wasmannia auropunctata and seem to rely on ant brood as their only food source. Not only do ant workers show no aggressiveness toward the D. thoracicus larvae in their behavioral interactions at the colonial level, but also at the species level; while coccinellid adults are always attacked. The integration of the larvae inside of the ant nests is based on their chemical mimicry of the host's cuticular cues. Therefore, given the presence of the D. thoracicus larvae inside of the ant's nest, their predation on Wasmannia brood and their chemical mimicry, this species can be considered a specific parasite of W. auropunctata. Overall, this new case of myrmecophily not only specifically involves a highly invasive ant species, but also provides insights into the evolution of myrmecophily and myrmecophagy in coccinellids.
SN  - 0006-3606
N1  - ISI:000281707700025
ID  - Vantaux_etal2010
ER  -