Temnothorax nylanderi explained

Temnothorax nylanderi is a species of ant in the genus Temnothorax. The species is found in western Europe. It was first described by Förster (1850) based on a male from Germany.

Subspecies

Ecology

Temnothorax nylanderi lives in the litter, and nests can be found in small cavities in twigs and acorns for example. Nests usually contain less than 400 individuals, among them a single queen.[1] Study shows that if these ants live socially isolated, their interaction with their colony members decreases and their stress response changes.[2]

Repartition

Temnothorax nylanderi is widely distributed across Western Europe, and a parapatric species (Temnothorax crassispinus) is found in Eastern Europe.[3] Hybridization can occur between the two species.[4]

Morphology

Temnothorax nylanderi workers are known to have important size variations that do not seem to result from adaptations to their environment, but rather from a lack of canalization during larval development, likely to occur as these ants live in an environment where humidity and temperature can vary greatly.[5] Intercaste individuals that share morphological traits of queens and workers are known to occur frequently.[6] The morphology of these ants can be changed by a parasite, Anomotaenia brevis, that increases the amount of intercaste individuals and induces a change of colors (individuals infected by the cestod are more pale than other individuals).[7]

Notes and References

  1. Scharf I, Modlmeier AP, Fries S, Tirard C, Foitzik S . Characterizing the collective personality of ant societies: aggressive colonies do not abandon their home . PLOS ONE . 7 . 3 . e33314 . 2012-03-21 . 22457751 . 3310061 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0033314 . 2012PLoSO...733314S . free .
  2. Scharf I, Stoldt M, Libbrecht R, Höpfner AL, Jongepier E, Kever M, Foitzik S . Social isolation causes downregulation of immune and stress response genes and behavioural changes in a social insect . Molecular Ecology . 30 . 10 . 2378–2389 . May 2021 . 33772940 . 10.1111/mec.15902 . 2021MolEc..30.2378S . 232386870 .
  3. Pusch K, Seifert B, Foitzik S, Heinze J . Distribution and genetic divergence of two parapatric sibling ant species in Central Europe. . Biological Journal of the Linnean Society . June 2006 . 88 . 2 . 223–34 . 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2006.00618.x . free .
  4. Pusch K, Heinze J, Foitzik S . The influence of hybridization on colony structure in the ant species Temnothorax nylanderi and T. crassispinus. . Insectes Sociaux . December 2006 . 53 . 4 . 439–445 . 10.1007/s00040-005-0891-8 . 13576455 .
  5. Colin T, Doums C, Péronnet R, Molet M . Decreasing worker size diversity does not affect colony performance during laboratory challenges in the ant Temnothorax nylanderi. . Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology . June 2017 . 71 . 6 . 92 . 10.1007/s00265-017-2322-4 . 6373423 .
  6. Okada Y, Plateaux L, Peeters C . Morphological variability of intercastes in the ant Temnothorax nylanderi: pattern of trait expression and modularity. . Insectes Sociaux . August 2013 . 60 . 3 . 319–328 . 10.1007/s00040-013-0296-4 . 6670560 .
  7. Lerp H, Mazur J, Binder H, Beros S, Foitzik S, Feldmeyer . July 2014 . Parasite-induced changes in host behavior and gene expression after infection . OR349 . 17th Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI) . Cairns, Australia .

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