Diversity and behavioural ecology of the myrmecophiles and myrmecomorphs associated with the common plant visiting ant Camponotus compressus Fabricius Hymenoptera Formicidae

Abstract

Social insects (such as ants, bees and termites) are colonial, exhibit eusociality and are newlineecologically dominant in terrestrial ecosystems. Among these, ants (Formicidae: newlineHymenoptera) are the most abundant and successful taxa in a variety of terrestrial habitats. newlineThey have powerful defense mechanisms such as acid taste, aggressive biting, painful sting, newlineand group defense. Ants are generally not subject to predation. These features along with newlinetheir high abundance in the terrestrial ecosystems make them intimidating to many predators. newlineAnts therefore, constitute ideal models for other, less well protected species, to mimic. They newlineare the ideal models in mimicry rings. Behaviour is an important part of multi-modal signals. newlineAnts play diverse ecological roles since they occupy a variety of niches as predators, newlinescavengers, seed harvesters and very occasionally, even as pollinators. Ant colonies are newlineefficient exploiters of food resources, and the evolution of cooperative foraging has been an newlineimportant key to their success. Ant colonies constitute well protected habitats with stable newlinemicroclimatic conditions. A great diversity of arthropods that live together with ants and newlineprofit from ant societies are known as myrmecophiles. This term encompasses a broad newlinespectrum of symbiotic interactions between ants and other arthropods that range from newlinemutualistic to parasitic and from facultative to obligate. Once within the ant nests, they may newlinederive protection from being surrounded by ants, or they may steal food from the colony, or newlinethey might even prey upon the ants and their eggs. The concentrated brood and accumulated newlinefood items in ant nests constitute valuable resources, readily exploitable by the associated newlineorganisms. newline