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The first record among Dolichoderinae (Formicidae) of parasitism by Strepsiptera

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Summary.

We present the first record of parasitism of Dolichoderus bispinosus nests by Strepsiptera belonging to the family Myrmecolacidae. This becomes only the fourteenth species of ant and the fifth subfamily to be identified as a host to Strepsiptera. Of the three colonies examined all were parasitized. Prevalence of parasitism among adult ants was less than 2% in each case. However, among alate males of one colony, nearly 24% were parasitized. In conjunction with a reanalysis of previously published data we discuss the possibility that ant castes are differentially parasitized by Strepsiptera. We review the natural history of strepsipteran parasitism in ants, effects on host behaviour and incidences of parasitism in the hope of enabling detection of this parasite by myrmecologists.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3PS, UK, e-mail:david.hughes@zoo.ox.ac.uk, , , , , , GB

    D. P. Hughes & J. Kathirithamby

  2. Departamento de Botanica y Zoologia, C.U.C.B.A., Universidad de Guadalajara, Km 15.5 carretera Guadalajara-Nogales, Las Agujas, Zapopan, C.P. 45110, Apdo, Postal 139, Jalisco, Mexico, , , , , , MX

    G. Moya-Raygoza

Authors
  1. D. P. Hughes
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  2. G. Moya-Raygoza
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  3. J. Kathirithamby
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Received 7 November 2002; revised 19 December 2002; accepted 2 January 2003.

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Hughes, D., Moya-Raygoza, G. & Kathirithamby, J. The first record among Dolichoderinae (Formicidae) of parasitism by Strepsiptera. Insectes soc. 50, 148–150 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-003-0637-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-003-0637-9

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