THAUMATOMYRMEX STRIPS MILLIPEDES FOR PREY - A NOVEL PREDATORY BEHAVIOR IN ANTS, AND THE 1ST CASE OF SYMPATRY IN THE GENUS (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE)
Contribuinte(s) |
Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) |
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Data(s) |
20/05/2014
20/05/2014
01/01/1991
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Resumo |
We describe, for the first time, the predatory behaviour of Thaumatomyrmex ants on millipedes of the family Polyxenidae, based on field observations of T. atrox and a field and laboratory study of T. contumax. The capture of the prey and the removal process of its body-covering setae by the ants before they eat the millipede are described. This specialized behaviour in at least two species of the genus, belonging to two distinct groups of species, indicates a general trend in Thaumatomyrmex. We coupled this study with a comparative morphological analysis of the mouthparts and digestive tube of these and other Thaumatomyrmex species. Also, we report the first case of sympatry in the genus, which suggests that Thaumatomyrmex includes several species. and not only one highly variable taxon, as hypothesized earlier. |
Formato |
335-344 |
Identificador |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01241869 Insectes Sociaux. Basel: Birkhauser Verlag Ag, v. 38, n. 4, p. 335-344, 1991. 0020-1812 http://hdl.handle.net/11449/32107 10.1007/BF01241869 WOS:A1991GY86900001 |
Idioma(s) |
eng |
Publicador |
Birkhauser Verlag Ag |
Relação |
Insectes Sociaux |
Direitos |
closedAccess |
Palavras-Chave | #THAUMATOMYRMEX #TAXONOMY #COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY #PREDATION #POLYXENIDAE |
Tipo |
info:eu-repo/semantics/article |