Ant Pupae from Myanmar Amber Reveal the Evolutionary Process of Cocoon-Spinning Behavior in Formicidae

Many extant species spin cocoons before their pupal stage,which can protect them from predators,pathogens,and fluctuant environmental factors in nests.However,owing to the scarcity of ant cocoon fossils,little is known about the origin and evolution of this behavior in Formicidae.Here,we describe two ant pupae specimens from Myanmar amber.The presence of cocoons in these Mesozoic fossils suggests the ancestral origin of spinning cocoon behavior;based on our phylogenetic analysis and ancestral state reconstruction,this behavior was secondarily lost at least six times in Formicidae,which could be ascribed to the transition of nesting and feeding habits,as well as the development of eusociality.Moreover,the first specimen preserved worker ants with empty cocoons simultaneously,indicating garbage removal or brood care behavior,which improves our understanding of their eusociality in the Cretaceous.

Molecular Phylogenetic Research on Five Genera of Formicidae

[Objective] The aim of this study was to explore the taxonomic status and genetic relationship of ants at molecular level.[Method]Applying cyt b gene as a molecular marker,molecular phylogenetic analysis of 14 ant species of 5 genera(Camponotus,Formica,Polyrhachis,Pheidole and Crematogaster)in Formicidae was conducted.Partial sequences of cyt b gene in 14 ant species were analyzed with software MEGA,Clustal X and PAUP,and phylogenetic trees were constructed by Neighbor-Joining method(NJ)and Maximum-Parsimony method(MP).[Result]NJ tree and MP tree showed that the 14 ant species could be clustered into 5 branches.[Conclusion]The results of molecular phylogenetic analysis coincided with the views of traditional morphological taxonomy.

A New Species of the Ant Genus Strongylognathus Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Shaanxi, China

A new ant species, Strongylognathus tylonum , sp. n. is described from Mt. Taibai in Shaanxi Province, China. Description is given for the worker caste. The species is morphologically close to S. karawajewi Pisarski. A key based on worker caste is preposed for the 3 species known in China. The type specimens of the new species is deposited in the Insect Collection, College of Forestry, Northwest Sci Tech University of Agriculture and Forestry.

The Third Species of the Ant Genus Perissomyrmex Smith (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) in the World

The third species of the ant genus Perissomyrmex in the world, P. fissus sp. nov., is collected from Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve of Yunnan Province. Perissomyrmex is a new record genus in China. Taxonomic key based on worker caste is provided for the 3 species: P. snyderi Smith, P. monticola de Andrade, and P. fissus sp. nov.

Four New Species of the Ant Genus Ponera Latreille(Hymenoptera:Formicidae)from Yunnan,China

Four new species of the ant genus Ponera Latreille are described from the Gaoligongshan Mountain Nature Reserve of Yunnan Province. Up to date, 12 species of the genus are recorded in China, i.e. P.sinensis Wheeler, P.alisana Terayama, P.chiponensis Terayama, Ponera pentodontos Xu, Ponera menglana Xu, Ponera nangongshana Xu, Ponera longlina Xu, Ponera baka Xu, Ponera xantha, sp. nov., Ponera pianmana, sp. nov., Ponera bawana, sp. nov., Ponera diodonta, sp. nov. A key to 12 species in China based on worker caste with figures is provided. All the type specimens are deposited in the Insect Collection, Southwest Forestry College.

Description of Myopopone castanea(Smith)(Hymenoptera:Formicidae) from Himalaya Region

The ant genus Myopopone Roger is distributed in Oriental and Indo-Australian regions.Only one valid species,M.castanea（Smith）,is recognized in the genus up to date.M.castanea（Smith） is recorded in Tibet,China,for the first time.Complete information,including characters of the genus,detailed measurements,descriptions,and illustrations of worker and queen castes of M.castanea,is provided.

TWO NEW SPECIES OF THE ANT GENUS Polyrhachis SMITH FROM YUNNAN,CHINA*(Hymenoptera:Formicidae)

In this paper,2 new species of the ant genus Polyrhachis Smith found in Yunnan Province of China,P cyphonota sp n and P bakana sp n,were described P cyphonota sp n belongs to the subgenus Cyrtomyrma Forel P bakana sp n belongs to the subgenus Myrmhopla Forel P bakana sp n was found in the tropical rain forest of Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve

A Taxonomic Study of the Ant Genus Recuruidris Bolton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from China, with Description of a New Species

A new species of the genus Recurvidris Bolton, Recurvidris glabriceps sp. nov. collected from south China is described. A key to Chinese known species of the genus based on worker caste is presented.

TWO NEW SPECIES OF THE GENERA Mystrium AND Cryptopone FROM YUNNAN,CHINA (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)*

Two new ant species from the tropical rain forest of Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve in Yunnan Province,Mystrium oculatum sp. nov. and Cryptopone recticlypea sp. nov.,were described. The genus,Mystrium Roger,was first recorded in China.

A Systematic Study on the Ant Genus Ponera Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of China

Eight species of the ant genus Ponera Latreille are recorded in China, among them 5 new species are discovered and described from Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve of Yunnan Province: P. sinensis Wheeler distributed in Hong Kong; P. alisana Terayama and P. chiponensis Terayama distributed in Taiwan Province; P. pentodontos , sp. nov., P. menglana , sp. nov., P. nangongshana , sp. nov., P. longlina , sp. nov., and P. baka , sp. nov. distributed in Yunnan Province. A key based on worker caste is provided for the 8 species. The type specimens are deposited in the Insect Collection, Southwest Forestry College, Kunming, Yunnan, China.

A New Species of the Ant Genus Epitritus Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from China

A new species of the ant genus Epitritus Emery, E. dayui sp. nov., is collected in Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, China. Up to date, 4 species of the genus are known in China: E. hexamerus Brown, E. formosus Terayama, Lin et Wu, E. hirashimai Ogata, and E. dayui sp. nov. A key based on worker and female castes is proposed for the 4 known species of Epitritus of East Asia.

TWO NEW GENERA OF ANT SUBFAMILIES DORYLINAE AND PONERINAE(HYMENOPTERA:FORMICIDAE) FROM YUNNAN,CHINA

Two new genera of the ant subfamilies Dorylinae and Ponerinae are collected and described from the tropical rain forest of Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve,Yunnan Province,China. Yunodorylus gen nov belongs to the subfamily Dorylinae,which is monotypic and terrestrial with 2 colonies of the species Y sexspinus sp nov. collected from the soil sample of seasonal rain forest and deciduous monsoon forest. Bannapone gen nov. belongs to the tribe Amblyoponini of Ponerinae,which is also monotypic and known only from a dealate female of the species B mulanae sp nov.collected from a soil sample in semi evergreen monsoon forest.

Discovery of the queen of Myrmica zhengi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

The queen of the ant species, Myrmica zhengi Ma ＆ Xu, is described. The queen is similar to workers, but differs from the latter in the following characters： Head with three large ocelli, eyes with dark colored patches; clypeus cabochon, anterior margin straight; mandible shiny, alitrunk very regularly longitudinally striated, petiole, dorsum of postpetiole and gaster shiny and smooth; body mainly brown, edge of mesonotum with suberect hair, posterior part of postpetiole with a transverse row of sparse erect hairs.

The Biology of <i>Szelenyiopria talitae</i>(Hymenoptera: Diapriidae): Larval Parasitoid of the Leaf-Cutting Ant <i>Acromyrmex subterraneus</i>(Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The biology of a koinobiont parasitoid of leaf-cutting ant larvae, Szelenyiopria talitae (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae), was studied from naturally infested Acromyrmex subterraneus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) nests. Nests were collected in the field from the Atlantic rainforest biome in the state of Rio de Janeiro. A total of fifty-three nests were collected from 2015 to 2018. Parasitized nests were only found during the months of September and October. Approximately 22% of the nests collected over a four-year period were found to have been parasitized by S. talitae. The mean within-nest parasitism rate was 66.3%. This diapriid displayed both solitary (14%) and gregarious parasitism (86%), with up to a maximum of 12 parasitoids developing within a single host. Gregarious parasitism with two (29%) or three (21%) S. talitae per host was most frequently observed. There was a positive correlation between the number of parasitoids per host and host size (dry weight), indicating that S. talitae females oviposited a higher number of eggs in larger hosts. There was also a negative correlation between S. talitae pharate adult size and the number of parasitoids per host, which could have been caused by sibling competition for limited host resources. The high levels of parasitism seen here had a debilitating effect on the colonies. Acromyrmex subterraneus is a serious pest in Brazil, and these studies lay the foundation for understanding the impact of S. talitae on ant populations.

Cretaceous crown male ant reveals the rise of modern lineages

Most described Mesozoic ants belong to stem groups that existed only during the Cretaceous period.Previously,the earliest known crown ants were dated to the Turonian(Late Cretaceous,ca.94-90 million years ago(Ma))deposits found in the USA,Kazakhstan,and Botswana.However,the recent discovery of an alate male ant in Kachin amber from the earliest Cenomanian(ca.99 Ma),representing a new genus and species,Antiquiformica alata,revises the narrative on ant diversification.Antiquiformica can be distinctly differentiated from all known male stem ants by its geniculate antennae with elongated scape,extending far beyond the occipital margin of the head and half the length of the funiculus,as well as its partly reduced forewing venation.Furthermore,the combination of a one-segmented waist with a well-developed node,elongated scape extending beyond the occipital margin,and reduced forewing venation,particularly the completely reduced m-cu and rs-m crossveins and absence of rm and mcu closed cells,firmly places the fossil within the extant subfamily Formicinae.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)confirmed that the amber containing Antiquiformica alata originated from the Kachin mines in Myanmar.This discovery significantly revises our understanding of the early evolution of Formicinae.The presence of Antiquiformica in Cenomanian amber indicates that the subfamily Formicinae emerged at least by the start of the Late Cretaceous,with crown ants likely originating earlier during the earliest Cretaceous or possibly the Late Jurassic,although paleontological evidence is lacking to support the latter hypothesis.

A new record ant species of the genus Cardiocondyla Emery from China(Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

An ant species, Cardiocondyla gibbosa Kuznetzov-Ugamsky, 1927, is newly recorded from China. The specimens were collected from Shule County of Kashgar, Xinjiang （39°14%I, 76° 22E; elev. 1248 m）. All the specimens are kept in Institute of Zoology, Shaanxi Normal University. A key based on worker caste to known species of Cardiocondyla from China is provided.

Diversity of the Formicidae (Hymenoptera) carrion communities in Lisbon (Portugal): preliminary approach as seasonal and geographic indicators

The value of the Formicidae (Insecta,Hymenoptera) community in forensic investigations is poorly studied in Portugal.In order to better understand the structure and dynamics of this group of insects in cadavers and their putative value in forensic investigations,studies were carried out in Lisbon area during one year.Piglet carcasses were used as a model of human decomposition.The entomofauna attracted to the carcasses was collected over a period of about 2 months in each season of the year.The collection of ants was performed at regular intervals,daily in the first 23 days and then with intervals of 2,3 or 5 days until the end of the experiment.Five stages of cadaveric decomposition were recognized with the ants being present in all of them.Three hundred and nine specimens were captured: 7 in autumn,6 in winter,90 in spring and 206 in summer.These specimens belong to three subfamilies and seven different species.Four of them had never been mentioned before as being associated to cadavers in this geographical area.Spring and summer had the greater diversity of species and a larger number of individuals.Temnothorax luteus was the dominant species in spring and Tapinoma nigerrimum in summer.Corroborating the information of other similar studies carried out in the Iberian Peninsula,the sarcosaprophagous Formicidae community found in Lisbon is unique and different from other studied locations,which supports the need to perform regional studies.Our results shown that ants do not present a definite pattern of succession,but some species have the potential to be seasonal or geographic indicators.

Community Structure in the Amber Forest:Study of the Arthropod Syninclusia in the Rovno Amber(Late Eocene of Ukraine)

Arthropodan syuinclusions in the Late Eocene Rovno amber were examined using x^2 to reveal correlation of the component groups （some taxa of Diptera, ants, aphids, and mites） supposedly indicative of the biocoenotic relationships in the ancient amber forest. Three tightly correlated groups were identified, representing a putative aerial plankton guild （Chironomidae ＋ Ceratopogonidae） and two tree-trunk guilds, one of which （Dolichopodidae ＋ Germaraphis） is possibly connected to more open or/and more hygrophilous habitats than the other （Sciara zone Diptera ＋ ＂Acarus＂ rhombeus）. The ants were not linked with any of the above components.

Richness and Diversity of Ants and Beetles in Genetically Modified Cotton Field in Brazil

Genetic engineering has created many genetically modified （GM） crop varieties that express the cry toxin from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis （Bt）. The cry toxin, synthesized during plant growth, has insecticidal properties, and can be expressed anywhere in the plant. This study aimed to ascertain the richness and species diversity of edaphic Formicidae and Coleoptera in GM cotton fields compared with the conventional non-transformed cotton crop. We analyzed data from commercial cotton fields located in the municipality of Maracaju, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The experiment was conducted during the reproductive period of cotton, employed two treatments： Bt cotton and non-Bt cotton. Samples were collected with pitfall traps. Formicidae species richness in the Bt area was lower than in the non-Bt area, but species composition did not differ between the two treatments. Species composition of Coleoptera communities also differed between the treatments because some species were more abundant in the Bt cotton area. On the other hand, the species richness of this group was similar in both areas.

Ant species diversity in ciliary forest and gallery forest areas in central Brazil

Ants make up an important group of insects of the Cerrado in terms of biomass, number of individuals, and ecological impact. The main goals of this study were to quantify the species richness and species diversity of the family Formicidae in two riparian Cerrado physiognomies: Ciliary Forest and Gallery Forest, and to evaluate the effectiveness of two collection techniques for these organisms. The study was conducted during the dry season, comprising the months of May to October 2012, in the municipality of Quirinópolis, Goiás State, Brazil. Samples were made using two capture techniques: sardine baits and pitfall traps. Manual collection was employed to extend the range of faunistic composition of the ants. We collected 24 species of ants in the Gallery Forest and 23 in the Ciliary Forest. The genus Megalomyrmex was the most representative, being present in 49.46% of the samples, and secondly the genus Pheidole, with 15.36% of the total individuals captured. From a total of 10,917 individuals, 9140 were captured using the bait technique, 1738 with traps, and 39 individuals through manual collection. Similar results were found in the Cerrado of Paineiras, with 45 ant species distributed in 16 genera belonging to 5 subfamilies.