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Sci Rep

Title:		A cuckoo-like parasitic moth leads African weaver ant colonies to their ruin
Author(s):		Dejean A; Orivel J; Azemar F; Herault B; Corbara B;
Address:		"Universite de Toulouse, UPS, INP, Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France. CNRS, UMR EcoLab, 31062 Toulouse, France. CNRS, UMR Ecologie de Forets de Guyane (AgroParisTech, CIRAD, CNRS, INRA, Universite de Guyane, Universite des Antilles), Campus agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou cedex, France. CIRAD, UMR Ecologie de Forets de Guyane (AgroParisTech, CIRAD, CNRS, INRA, Universite de Guyane, Universite des Antilles), Campus agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou cedex, France. CNRS, UMR Laboratoire Microorganismes, Genome et Environnement, Universite Blaise Pascal, Complexe Scientifique des Cezeaux, 63177 Aubiere cedex, France. Universite Clermont Auvergne, Universite Blaise Pascal (LMGE), 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France"
Journal Title:		Sci Rep
Year:		2016
Volume:		20160329
Issue:
Page Number:		23778 -
DOI:		10.1038/srep23778
ISSN/ISBN:		2045-2322 (Electronic) 2045-2322 (Linking)
Abstract:		"In myrmecophilous Lepidoptera, mostly lycaenids and riodinids, caterpillars trick ants into transporting them to the ant nest where they feed on the brood or, in the more derived 'cuckoo strategy', trigger regurgitations (trophallaxis) from the ants and obtain trophic eggs. We show for the first time that the caterpillars of a moth (Eublemma albifascia; Noctuidae; Acontiinae) also use this strategy to obtain regurgitations and trophic eggs from ants (Oecophylla longinoda). Females short-circuit the adoption process by laying eggs directly on the ant nests, and workers carry just-hatched caterpillars inside. Parasitized colonies sheltered 44 to 359 caterpillars, each receiving more trophallaxis and trophic eggs than control queens. The thus-starved queens lose weight, stop laying eggs (which transport the pheromones that induce infertility in the workers) and die. Consequently, the workers lay male-destined eggs before and after the queen's death, allowing the colony to invest its remaining resources in male production before it vanishes"
Keywords:		Animals Ants/*parasitology/physiology Cameroon Feeding Behavior/*physiology Female Gabon Host-Parasite Interactions Larva/physiology Male Moths/*physiology Nesting Behavior/physiology Ovum/physiology Parasites/physiology Predatory Behavior/*physiology Rep;
Notes:		"MedlineDejean, Alain Orivel, Jerome Azemar, Frederic Herault, Bruno Corbara, Bruno eng England 2016/03/30 Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 29; 6:23778. doi: 10.1038/srep23778"