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Distinguishing Symbiotic Partners of Acropyga Ants from Free-Living Soil Inhabitants

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Abstract

The fruitful study of associations between ants and scale insects yields insight into the mechanisms that shape these symbioses. Field collections provide the basic information linking partnered species, and as such it is critical that collection techniques from the field reflect true species-to-species partnerships in the published literature. It is equally critical that such practices limit the potential for mistaking free-living “neighbors” for symbiotic partners and publishing erroneous associations. This article describes a protocol for collecting subterranean scale insects and associated Acropyga Roger ants, which relies upon the activity of worker ants to sort and distinguish symbionts from free-living scale insects that happen to live near the colony. By collecting samples of ants and scales into nest boxes and allowing a resting period of several hours, worker ants will gather symbiotic partners into dense, protected clusters in which symbionts are actively tended. Free-living scale insects neighboring the colony can be collected from soil along with colony samples, but these free-living individuals are excluded from protective clusters and ignored by workers. Following confirmation of ant attendance, true symbiotic partners can be confidently collected, preserved, and recorded for future study. We illustrate the value of employing this collection protocol using a case study from Peru.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Roxana Arauco Aliaga for accommodation at Cocha Cashu Biological Station and for assistance with permitting (SERFOR #003620). Special thanks to Dr. Harald Beck (Towson University) and the 2019 Tropical Field Ecology class for allowing SAS and JSL to join in on their trip to Peru. Support for this research was provided by the National Science Foundation (award number 1754242 to JSL and SAS). The research was supported also in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture; USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Systematic Entomology Lab, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, MD, USA

    Scott A. Schneider

  2. Dept of Biological Sciences, Towson Univ, Towson, MD, USA

    James Sodano & John S. LaPolla

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  1. Scott A. Schneider
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  2. James Sodano
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  3. John S. LaPolla
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by SAS and JSL. The first draft of the manuscript was written by SAS and JS and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Scott A. Schneider.

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Schneider, S.A., Sodano, J. & LaPolla, J.S. Distinguishing Symbiotic Partners of Acropyga Ants from Free-Living Soil Inhabitants. Neotrop Entomol 51, 641–647 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-022-00948-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-022-00948-9

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