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Paratrechina

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Paratrechina
Paratrechina longicornis (longhorn crazy ant) worker
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hymenoptera
Family:
Formicidae
Subfamily:
Formicinae
Tribe:
Lasiini
Genus:
Paratrechina

Type species
Paratrechina currens
Motschoulsky, 1863
Diversity[1]
6 species

Paratrechina is one of seven ant genera (alongside Euprenolepis, Nylanderia, Paraparatrechina, Prenolepis, Pseudolasius, and Zatania) in the Prenolepis genus-group from the subfamily Formicinae (tribe Lasiini). Six species are included in Paratrechina; one of which, the longhorn crazy ant (Paratrechina longicornis), is a widespread, pantropical pest.[2]

Species

Distribution

Most Paratrechina species are native to Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar,[3] but one species, Paratrechina umbra, has only been found in southern China and is native to Southeast Asia.[4] The only species found outside of these regions is Paratrechina longicornis, which has been introduced by humans to tropical areas across the globe.[5] The native range of Paratrechina longicornis is currently unknown, but it is thought to be of either African or Asian origin. Although Paratrechina longicornis has been found in undisturbed habitats in Southeast Asia,[5] the Afrotropics are the center of Paratrechina diversity.[3] Paratrechina zanjensis, the purported sister species to Paratrechina longicornis, is found specifically in miombo woodlands across central and eastern Africa (including Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique), and Paratrechina longicornis is also considered a woodland specialist.[6]

Taxonomy

In 2010, the genus Paratrechina was discovered to be paraphyletic with respect to the subgenus Nylanderia, which was then elevated to full generic status.[7] This taxonomic change resulted in Paratrechina becoming monotypic with Paratrechina longicornis as its sole species. A taxonomic review of Paratrechina in 2013 resulted in the description of another species from Africa, called Paratrechina zanjensis, and in 2014 the central African species Paratrechina kohli was transferred from Prenolepis and two more new species from Madagascar were described: Paratrechina ankarana and Paratrechina antsingy.[8][9] The last taxonomic change to the genus was in 2016 when the Southeast Asian species Paratrechina umbra was transferred from Prenolepis, bringing Paratrechina to a total count of six species.[10]

Mutualism

See also: Myrmecophily

Some species of Paratrechina have been found to be in mutualistic association with caterpillars of E. elvina, a metalmark butterfly. The ants are attracted to the tentacle nectary organ of the caterpillars, which produces exudates rich in sugar and amino acids. The ants are thought to provide protection to the caterpillars against enemies in return for this source of nutrition.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bolton, B. (2014). "Paratrechina". AntCat. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  2. ^ LaPolla, John S.; Hawkes, Peter; Fisher, Jonathan N. (2013-10-25). "Taxonomic review of the ant genus Paratrechina, with a description of a new species from Africa". Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 35: 71–82. doi:10.3897/jhr.35.5628. ISSN 1314-2607.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  3. ^ a b LaPolla, John S.; Fisher, Brian (2014-06-30). "Then there were five: a reexamination of the ant genus Paratrechina (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)". ZooKeys. 422: 35–48. doi:10.3897/zookeys.422.7779. ISSN 1313-2970.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  4. ^ Williams, Jason L.; LaPolla, John S. (2016-11-29). "Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". Zootaxa. 4200 (2): 201–258. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4200.2.1. ISSN 1175-5334.
  5. ^ a b Wetterer, James K. (2008). "Worldwide spread of the longhorn crazy ant, Paratrechina longicornis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)" (PDF). Myrmecological News. 11: 137–149.
  6. ^ LaPolla, John S.; Hawkes, Peter; Fisher, Jonathan N. (2013-10-25). "Taxonomic review of the ant genus Paratrechina, with a description of a new species from Africa". Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 35: 71–82. doi:10.3897/jhr.35.5628. ISSN 1314-2607.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  7. ^ LaPolla, John S.; Brady, Seán G.; Shattuck, Steven O. (2010). "Phylogeny and taxonomy of the Prenolepis genus-group of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". Systematic Entomology. 35 (1): 118–131. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3113.2009.00492.x. ISSN 1365-3113.
  8. ^ LaPolla, John S.; Hawkes, Peter; Fisher, Jonathan N. (2013-10-25). "Taxonomic review of the ant genus Paratrechina, with a description of a new species from Africa". Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 35: 71–82. doi:10.3897/jhr.35.5628. ISSN 1314-2607.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  9. ^ LaPolla, John S.; Fisher, Brian (2014-06-30). "Then there were five: a reexamination of the ant genus Paratrechina (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)". ZooKeys. 422: 35–48. doi:10.3897/zookeys.422.7779. ISSN 1313-2970.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  10. ^ Williams, Jason L.; LaPolla, John S. (2016-11-29). "Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". Zootaxa. 4200 (2): 201–258. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4200.2.1. ISSN 1175-5334.
  11. ^ Horvitz, Carol C.; Turnbull, Christine; Harvey, Donald J. (1987-07-01). "Biology of Immature Eurybia elvina (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), a Myrmecophilous Metalmark Butterfly". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 80 (4): 513–519. doi:10.1093/aesa/80.4.513. ISSN 0013-8746.
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  • This article incorporates text from a scholarly publication published under a copyright license that allows anyone to reuse, revise, remix and redistribute the materials in any form for any purpose: Lapolla, J.; Hawkes, P.; n. Fisher, J. (2013). "Taxonomic review of the ant genus Paratrechina, with a description of a new species from Africa". Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 35: 71. doi:10.3897/JHR.35.5628.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) Please check the source for the exact licensing terms.


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