Tetramorium bicarinatum explained

Tetramorium bicarinatum, is a species of ant of the family Formicidae in the order Hymenoptera that originated in South East Asia.^[1]

Morphology

It is a reddish headed medium-sized ant, with mesosoma and waist contrasting with a dark gaster.^[2]

Habitat

The species can adversely affect native biodiversity.^[2] It is also said to be a common tramp species which is usually found inside of houses, in greenhouses and shade houses, or in landscaped areas near houses.^[3]

Venom

The Tetramorium bicarinatums venom arrangement shows potential for a new pharmacologically active substance, bicarinalin. This antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-infective compound could potentially be chemically synthesized to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens by means of drug therapy.^{[4] [5] [6]}

Further reading

• Wetterer, James K. "Worldwide spread of the penny ant, Tetramorium bicarinatum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Sociobiology 54.3 (2009): 811–830.
• Astruc, Cyril, Christian Malosse, and Christine Errard. "Lack of intraspecific aggression in the ant Tetramorium bicarinatum: a chemical hypothesis." Journal of Chemical Ecology 27.6 (2001): 1229–1248.
• de Biseau, J. C., et al. "Respective contributions of leader and trail during recruitment to food inTetramorium bicarinatum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Insectes sociaux 41.3 (1994): 241–254.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013). Species: Tetramorium (bicarinatum) bicarinatum, AntWeb.
2. Web site: Tetramorium bicarinatum. PIAkey.
3. Web site: Ants of Costa Rica. John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College.
4. Bouzid. W.. Klopp. C.. Vétillard. A.. December 2013. Transcriptome analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from the venom glands of the ant species Tetramorium bicarinatum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Toxicon. 75. 210–211. 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.08.018.
5. Rifflet. Aline. Gavalda. Sabine. Téné. Nathan. Orivel. Jérôme. Leprince. Jérôme. Guilhaudis. Laure. Génin. Eric. Vétillard. Angélique. Treilhou. Michel. December 2012. Identification and characterization of a novel antimicrobial peptide from the venom of the ant Tetramorium bicarinatum. Peptides. 38. 2. 363–370. 10.1016/j.peptides.2012.08.018. 22960382.
6. Bouzid. Wafa. Klopp. Christophe. Verdenaud. Marion. Ducancel. Frédéric. Vétillard. Angélique. August 2013. Profiling the venom gland transcriptome of Tetramorium bicarinatum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): The first transcriptome analysis of an ant species. Toxicon. 70. 70–81. 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.03.010. 23584016 .