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Parasitic Ants
A parasitic ant is a type of ant that exploits the social structure of another ant species to aid in its own survival and reproduction. The most common types of Parasitism, parasitic ants infiltrate a Colony (biology), colony of a closely related species by using pheromones identical to those of the colony's workers to avoid conflict and blend in. The parasite then lays eggs alongside existing ones for the Host (biology), host colony's Ant, workers to raise and nurture as their own. The earliest parasitic ants most likely evolved 16 million years ago as temporary social parasites. Parasites usually induce harmful effects on the target colony and can inhibit the colony's growth and development. Depending on the severity and quantity of parasites, the colony can experience extreme damage, sometimes to the point of colony collapse. Parasites evolve their anatomy to reflect that of their targeted species, which causes some to remain undetected inside a colony for the majority of their ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lasius Umbratus (Formicidae), Kampina, The Netherlands
''Lasius umbratus'', common name, colloquially known as the yellow shadow ant and yellow lawn ant, is a Palearctic species of parasitic ant distributed across Eurasia and the Maghreb, Maghreb region of Africa. It was once thought that this species occurred in North America as well, but comparative genomic studies indicate the Afro-Eurasian and American populations are discrete and not closely related enough to represent a single species. The North American populations are now treated as a different species, ''Lasius aphidicola''. The Queen ant, queens of this species seek out a Black garden ant, ''Lasius niger'' worker ant to first kill in order to gain the worker ant's Pheromones, scent and then to discreetly sneak inside a ''L. niger'' nest. Once inside the ''L. umbratus'' queen finds the ''L. niger'' queen, and kills her. The worker ants will care for the new queen's larvae and slowly the colony will be made up of only ''L. umbratus'' individuals. Ant species like ''Lasius fuli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
