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Lin YJ, Yeh CH, Wu CZ, Wu LH. Climate and Wolbachia Impacts on Anoplolepis gracilipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1482. [PMID: 38132308 PMCID: PMC10871109 DOI: 10.3390/biology12121482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes (Smith, 1857)) is a prominent invasive species exhibiting variable population dynamics. Through collecting long-term climate data and validating field surveys with MaxEnt SDM projections, our results indicated that winter temperature and precipitation accumulation strongly influence the population dynamics. An aggression analysis showed that A. gracilipes nests with higher aggression levels (over 2.5 scores) experienced a higher mean maximum temperature (31.84 ± 0.43 °C) and lower prevalence of wAgra (84.8 ± 4.70%) in A. gracilipes from June to October. The nest manipulation and aggression experiments confirmed that temperature increases aggression (1.3 to 2.8 scores) among A. gracilipes workers due to the reduced prevalence of wAgra. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a notable reduction in the prevalence of Wolbachia (100 to 66%) within a colony of A. gracilipes while maintaining stable nests for further experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Li-Hsin Wu
- Department of Plant Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pintung 91201, Taiwan
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2
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Negroni MA, LeBoeuf AC. Metabolic division of labor in social insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 59:101085. [PMID: 37454732 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Social insects are known for reproductive and behavioral division of labor, but little attention has been paid to metabolic forms of division of labor. Metabolic division of labor is the partitioning of complementary metabolic tasks between individuals, and it is widespread in social insects. We define two forms of metabolic division of labor, homosynergetic and heterosynergetic, we pinpoint trophallaxis, trophic eggs, and cannibalism as the primary transfers underlying the homosynergetic form and discuss their evolution. We argue that homosynergetic metabolic division of labor underpins fundamental aspects of colony physiology and may be a necessary feature of superorganismal systems, impacting many life history traits. Investigating metabolic division of labor is necessary to understand major evolutionary transition(s) to superorganismality in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo A Negroni
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
| | - Adria C LeBoeuf
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
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Nie L, Bamisile BS, Li Y, Ran H, Wang S, Wang L, Xu Y. Interspecific competition predicts the potential impact of little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) invasion on resident ants in southern China. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:1518-1530. [PMID: 36583375 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger) is a major invasive species that seriously threatens the biodiversity of invaded areas. W. auropunctata was first reported in Chinese mainland in 2022 and its impact on native species is still unknown. To evaluate the impact of W. auropunctata invasion on the ant communities in southern China, a series of interspecific competition experiments were conducted in this study. The individual aggression index and group aggression experiments showed the advantage of W. auropunctata in competition with 5 resident ants under equal worker numbers. When encountering Anoplolepis gracilipes, Camponotus nicobarensis, Tetramorium bicarinatum, Polyrhachis dives, and Solenopsis invicta, W. auropunctata gradually gained a competitive advantage with an increase in its number of workers. In the group aggression experiments with equal worker numbers, there was a negative correlation between the body length and mortality rate of resident ants. The results of the foraging behavior experiments showed that W. auropunctata was able to dominate food resources under competition with Carebara diversa, which also displayed weak competition in the group aggression bioassay. In addition, the abilities to recruit workers and retrieve food were inhibited under competition with S. invicta and T. bicarinatum. The results of the nesting behavior experiments showed that in the 24-h bout of space resource competition, W. auropunctata was dominant over C. diversa, S. invicta, and T. bicarinatum. The results of this study show that W. auropunctata has certain advantages in competition for food and space resources over resident ants in southern China, and some resident ant species may be replaced in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Nie
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bamisope Steve Bamisile
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuling Li
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao Ran
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suhang Wang
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yijuan Xu
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Ndaba A, Munyai TC, Mbanyana N, van Noort S, Janion-Scheepers C. Now you see me, now you don't: verifying the absence of alien invasive yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes in South Africa. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 3:1176810. [PMID: 38469467 PMCID: PMC10926371 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2023.1176810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Anoplolepis gracilipes is an invasive species that is a major threat to native ecosystems worldwide. It has been listed as one of the top 100 worst invasive species in the world and is well known for its negative impact on native arthropods and some vertebrates. This study aimed to confirm the presence or absence of A. gracilipes in some major South African harbours. We did so by surveying four harbours in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, using pitfall trapping, yellow pan traps, and baiting. In addition, ant collections from Iziko Museums of South Africa (Cape Town, South Africa), University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus, South Africa), Iimbovane Outreach Project (Stellenbosch University, South Africa), and AfriBugs CC (Pretoria, South Africa) were examined for specimens of A. gracilipes. The invasive species A. gracilipes was not detected from any of the sampled harbours during this study, nor in the main ant collections in South Africa. The only, and potentially erroneous published record of A. gracilipes in South Africa, is from Durban harbour and subsequent possibly erroneous citizen science observations are from other coastal sites such as Gansbaai, Knysna, Table Bay, and Kalk Bay. This is a positive outcome for conservation authorities as this species is highly invasive and, if introduced, will likely outcompete native fauna and result in ecosystem collapse. Although A. gracilipes was not detected in the samples from this study, early detection and eradication of this species should be prioritised. This can be achieved through existing pest monitoring programs at harbours, and continued border biosecurity measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abusisiwe Ndaba
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Nokuthula Mbanyana
- Research and Exhibitions Department, Iziko Museums of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Simon van Noort
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Research and Exhibitions Department, Iziko Museums of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Charlene Janion-Scheepers
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Research and Exhibitions Department, Iziko Museums of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
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Lum JY, Chiu MC, Tseng SP, Scotty Yang CC, Lee CY. Anthropogenic Influence on the Distribution of the Longlegged Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 116:520-528. [PMID: 36715608 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toad010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The longlegged ant Anoplolepis gracilipes (Smith) is a highly invasive tramp ant species known for its deleterious effects on native ecosystems. While tramp ants are associated with human activity, information on how different intensities of human activity affect their distribution is limited. This study investigated how anthropogenic activities affected the distribution of A. gracilipes in Penang, a tropical island in northern peninsular Malaysia. Three study sites (Youth Park, Sungai Ara, and Bukit Jambul/Relau) were selected, containing four sub-locations corresponding to different levels of human activity (low, moderate, high, and very high), determined by the average number of passersby observed over 30 min. Baited index cards were placed at each sub-location to evaluate ant abundance and distribution. The results demonstrated that A. gracilipes worker abundance was highest in areas of moderate human activity, as opposed to areas with low and higher human activity. The low abundance of A. gracilipes in comparatively undisturbed localities may be attributed to unsuitable microclimate, lack of propagule pressure, and diminished honeydew availability. In contrast, its exclusion from more urbanized localities could be explained by high interspecific competition with other tramp species and the absence of preferred nesting sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Yin Lum
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Ming-Chung Chiu
- Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Ping Tseng
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Cheng Scotty Yang
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Chow-Yang Lee
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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Putri D, Cronin AL. Widespread and ongoing invasion by the ant
Technomyrmex brunneus
Forel in eastern Asia as elucidated by molecular data. Ecol Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Diyona Putri
- Department of Biological Sciences Tokyo Metropolitan University Tokyo Japan
| | - Adam L. Cronin
- Department of Biological Sciences Tokyo Metropolitan University Tokyo Japan
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Lee CC, Hsu HW, Lin CY, Gustafson N, Matsuura K, Lee CY, Yang CCS. First Polycipivirus and Unmapped RNA Virus Diversity in the Yellow Crazy Ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes. Viruses 2022; 14:v14102161. [PMID: 36298716 PMCID: PMC9612232 DOI: 10.3390/v14102161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes is a widespread invasive ant that poses significant threats to local biodiversity. Yet, compared to other global invasive ant species such as the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) or the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), little is known about the diversity of RNA viruses in the yellow crazy ant. In the current study, we generated a transcriptomic database for A. gracilipes using a high throughput sequencing approach to identify new RNA viruses and characterize their genomes. Four virus species assigned to Dicistroviridae, two to Iflaviridae, one to Polycipiviridae, and two unclassified Riboviria viruses were identified. Detailed genomic characterization was carried out on the polycipivirus and revealed that this virus comprises 11,644 nucleotides with six open reading frames. Phylogenetic analysis and pairwise amino acid identity comparison classified this virus into the genus Sopolycivirus under Polycipiviridae, which is tentatively named "Anoplolepis gracilipes virus 3 (AgrV-3)". Evolutionary analysis showed that AgrV-3 possesses a high level of genetic diversity and elevated mutation rate, combined with the common presence of multiple viral strains within single worker individuals, suggesting AgrV-3 likely evolves following the quasispecies model. A subsequent field survey placed the viral pathogen "hotspot" of A. gracilipes in the Southeast Asian region, a pattern consistent with the region being recognized as part of the ant's native range. Lastly, infection of multiple virus species seems prevalent across field colonies and may have been linked to the ant's social organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Chi Lee
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6068502, Japan
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6110011, Japan
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Hung-Wei Hsu
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6068502, Japan
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6110011, Japan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yi Lin
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6110011, Japan
- Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL 33850, USA
| | - Nicolas Gustafson
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Kenji Matsuura
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6068502, Japan
| | - Chow-Yang Lee
- Department of Entomology, University of California, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Chin-Cheng Scotty Yang
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-540-231-3052
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