Show threadMikko KolkkalaOct 20, 2023

Unfortunately, two very interesting social parasite species - workerless inquiline #Temnothorax #minutissimus and slavemaker T. #duloticus - seem to be missing from this study

https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5729518/

#phylogeny #ants #parasitism #SocialParasitism #workerless #inquiline #slavemaker

Insights into the evolution, biogeography and natural history of the acorn ants, genus Temnothorax Mayr (hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Temnothorax (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) is a diverse genus of ants found in a broad spectrum of ecosystems across the northern hemisphere. These diminutive ants have long served as models for social insect behavior, leading to discoveries about social learning ...

PubMed Central (PMC)
Show threadMikko KolkkalaOct 20, 2023
Unfortunately, two very interesting social parasite species - workerless inquiline #Temnothorax #minutissimus and slavemaker T. #duloticus - seem to be missing from this study ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles... #phylogeny #ants #parasitism #SocialParasitism #workerless #inquiline #slavemaker
Show threadMikko KolkkalaOct 20, 2023

Here's a more comprehensive phylogeny [by me]. Social parasite ants are so cool!

#SocialParasitism #workerless #inquiline #slavemaker #ants #phylogeny #EvolutionaryTree #TreeOfLife #Formicoxenus #Leptothorax #Harpagoxenus #Temnothorax

Show threadMikko KolkkalaOct 20, 2023
Here's a more comprehensive phylogeny [by me]. Social parasite ants are so cool! #SocialParasitism #workerless #inquiline #slavemaker #ants #phylogeny #EvolutionaryTree #TreeOfLife #Formicoxenus #Leptothorax #Harpagoxenus #Temnothorax
Show threadMikko KolkkalaOct 20, 2023

@barrygoldman1

Yes, #Temnothorax.

T. #minutissimus #workerless #inquiline

T. #curvispinosus host

T. #duloticus #slavemaker

T. #longispinosus host

T. #ambiguus host

T. (formerly #Protomognathus) #americanus slavemaker

Chris FriesenNov 17, 2022

I was surprised when this #fly emerged from a #gall induced by a #wasp in the family #Cynipidae (yes there's wasps that make #galls on plants!)

Turns out it's a fly in the family #Cecidomyiidae that can be a "successor #inquiline" in galls formed by other #insects. Essentially, some species in this group move into the galls formed by other species once the original inhabitant has moved out!

It has black scales on its abdomen and very hairy wings. This photo was taken through a microscope - the fly is only several millimeters long.

#nature is weird and wonderful!

From #Manitoba #Canada

#diptera #macrophotography #FaunaOfManitoba #NaturePhotography