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.

青藏高原东北坡蚂蚁多样性

【目的】研究青藏高原东北坡不同海拔和植被类型下蚂蚁多样性,为该区生态恢复和物种多样性保护提供参考。【方法】采用样地调查法获取研究数据和蚂蚁标本,利用R语言4.1.1绘制物种累积曲线并计算α多样性指数和Jaccard相似性系数,用SPSS 24.0分析蚂蚁多样性指数与生境因子间的相关性。【结果】共观察蚂蚁23800头,鉴定为30种,隶属于2亚科13属。其中,优势种为草地铺道蚁[Tetramorium caespitum(Linnaeus)]和光亮黑蚁(Formica candida Smith)。在5个垂直带中,柳梢沟垂直带物种数最多(24种),物种多样性指数(2.4359)和均匀度指数(0.7665)最大,而优势度指数最小(0.1237);巴颜喀拉山垂直带物种数最少(2种),物种多样性指数(0.0099)和均匀度指数(0.0143)最小,优势度指数最大(0.9974)。各垂直带蚂蚁类群间的相似性系数为0.0000~0.5000,处于极不相似至中等相似水平。相关性分析发现,物种多样性指数与海拔呈极显著负相关,与坡度和灌木盖度呈显著正相关。【结论】青藏高原东北坡蚂蚁多样性主要与海拔、坡度和灌木盖度等生境因素有关。高海拔地区气候严寒,植被单一,不适合多数物种栖息;海拔高差大的垂直带环境温度范围较大,植被类型较丰富,适合更多的蚂蚁物种生存。各垂直带蚂蚁类群间的分化较显著,不同地段的类群能反映不同生境状况。

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.

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.

昆明市东川干热河谷蚂蚁物种多样性

为阐明干热河谷蚂蚁多样性规律,采用样地调查法对昆明市东川干热河谷蚂蚁物种多样性进行研究。结果表明,在8个样地中共采集到蚂蚁5亚科24属53种,蚂蚁群落的优势种为罗氏铺道蚁[Tetramorium wroughtonii(Forel)],此外发现常见种7种(占物种总数的13.21%),较常见种11种(占20.75%),较稀有种21种(占39.62%),稀有种13种(占24.53%)。各样地蚂蚁群落主要指标为物种数目5~22种(平均12.8种),个体密度4.8~147.2头/m2(平均62.4头/m2),多样性指数1.0492~2.0480(平均1.4633),均匀度指数0.5058~0.7086(平均0.5954),优势度指数0.2091~0.4866(平均0.3472);蚂蚁群落间相似性系数0.0000~0.3000,显示2个不同样地间相似性处于极不相似至中等不相似水平。东川干热河谷蚂蚁物种丰富度总体偏低,主要是气温和湿度的联合作用对研究区植被类型产生了重要影响,进而影响蚂蚁群落的主要指标。

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.

四川大凉山东部地区蚂蚁物种分布特征

为揭示四川大凉山东部地区的蚂蚁物种分布规律,采用样地调查法研究该地区蚂蚁物种的分布格局,运用采获频数统计法对蚂蚁物种的垂直分布、栖息生境、觅食和筑巢场所进行统计分析。本次调查共采获蚂蚁标本35630头,隶属于6亚科43属135种(包括15个待定种)。其中,生活在低海拔区域的针叶林和针阔混交林内的蚂蚁种类较多,其他植被类型内的蚂蚁种类较少,并表现出较窄的生态适应幅度;在视野开阔和食物资源丰富地表觅食的蚂蚁种类较多,大多数蚂蚁在结构稳定的土壤和石块下筑巢。研究结果表明,蚂蚁物种的分布格局受海拔、植被类型、食物资源丰富度及筑巢场所稳定性的综合影响,同时还与蚂蚁物种的自身适应能力有关。

新疆天山中部蚂蚁物种多样性

【目的】探讨新疆天山中部地区蚂蚁群落结构、物种多样性和群落相似性问题,为天山地区的植被恢复和物种多样性保护提供参考。【方法】采用样地调查法探究新疆天山中部地区蚂蚁物种多样性,利用R4.1.1软件进行抽样充分性检测,计算α多样性指数和Jaccard群落相似性系数,应用SPSS24.0软件进行蚂蚁物种多样性指标与生境因子间的Pearson相关性分析。【结果】在天山中部共调查采集到蚂蚁11767头,隶属2亚科15属27种。北坡蚂蚁群落物种丰富度、多样性指数、均匀度指数均大于南坡。随海拔升高,南坡和北坡各样地α多样性指数表现为多域效应现象或中域效应现象。南坡和北坡蚂蚁群落间相似性(0.2222)处于极不相似水平,南坡和北坡各样地蚂蚁群落间相似性水平总体较低,各类植被蚂蚁群落间相似性(0~0.4167)处于极不相似至中等不相似水平。相关性分析发现,物种数目和多样性指数与海拔呈极显著负相关,与乔木郁闭度呈显著正相关。【结论】天山中部地区蚂蚁群落α多样性在海拔和气温主导下,主要与湿度、植被性质和人为干扰因素有关,物种丰富度和多样性指数与海拔呈显著负相关,与乔木郁闭度呈显著正相关。良好的植被能为蚂蚁群落提供充足的食物和栖息场所,蚂蚁更喜欢生活在植被覆盖率高、气候较湿热的中海拔区域。南北坡垂直带及各类生境间蚂蚁群落分化明显。

云南哀牢山国家级自然保护区蚂蚁物种分布格局研究

【目的】全面揭示哀牢山国家级自然保护区蚂蚁物种的多样性。【方法】采用样地调查法对该保护区的蚂蚁物种分布格局进行调查。【结果】8个垂直带的58块样地共采集蚂蚁10亚科61属209种。水平分布上,西坡的蚂蚁物种数高于东坡(171 vs 145),西坡特有种64种,东坡特有种38种,东、西坡共有种107种;垂直分布上,东、西坡的蚂蚁物种数均与海拔负相关(西坡R^(2)=0.65,东坡R^(2)=0.63);10类不同生境中,中低海拔的针阔混交林和季风常绿阔叶林中栖息的蚂蚁物种较为丰富(分别为127和104种),高海拔的苔藓矮林中蚂蚁物种最贫乏(3种);觅食和筑巢分析中,土壤为蚂蚁最喜欢的觅食和筑巢场所,其次为地表,最后为植物上。【结论】哀牢山国家级自然保护区资源丰富,植被保护整体良好,孕育着丰富的蚂蚁物种。低海拔的人为干扰对蚂蚁物种有不利影响。多数(超过70%)蚂蚁物种的水平分布、垂直分布和栖息生境都十分有限,生态位极其狭窄,具有极高的保护价值。