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Proc Biol Sci

Title:		Dead ant walking: a myrmecophilous beetle predator uses parasitoid host location cues to selectively prey on parasitized ants
Author(s):		Mathis KA; Tsutsui ND;
Address:		"Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94702-3114, USA kmathis@email.arizona.edu. Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94702-3114, USA"
Journal Title:		Proc Biol Sci
Year:		2016
Volume:		283
Issue:		1836
Page Number:		-
DOI:		10.1098/rspb.2016.1281
ISSN/ISBN:		1471-2954 (Electronic) 0962-8452 (Print) 0962-8452 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Myrmecophiles (i.e. organisms that associate with ants) use a variety of ecological niches and employ different strategies to survive encounters with ants. Because ants are typically excellent defenders, myrmecophiles may choose moments of weakness to take advantage of their ant associates. This hypothesis was studied in the rove beetle, Myrmedonota xipe, which associates with Azteca sericeasur ants in the presence of parasitoid flies. A combination of laboratory and field experiments show that M. xipe beetles selectively locate and prey upon parasitized ants. These parasitized ants are less aggressive towards beetles than healthy ants, allowing beetles to eat the parasitized ants alive without interruption. Moreover, behavioural assays and chemical analysis reveal that M. xipe are attracted to the ant's alarm pheromone, the same secretion used by the phorid fly parasitoids in host location. This strategy allows beetles access to an abundant but otherwise inaccessible resource, as A. sericeasur ants are typically highly aggressive. These results are the first, to our knowledge, to demonstrate a predator sharing cues with a parasitoid to gain access to an otherwise unavailable prey item. Furthermore, this work highlights the importance of studying ant-myrmecophile interactions beyond just their pairwise context"
Keywords:		Animals Ants/*parasitology Coleoptera/*physiology *Cues Diptera *Predatory Behavior *Azteca sericeasur *Staphylinidae *complex interactions *myrmecophily *phorid fly parasitism *predation strategy;
Notes:		"MedlineMathis, Kaitlyn A Tsutsui, Neil D eng K12 GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ England 2016/08/12 Proc Biol Sci. 2016 Aug 17; 283(1836):20161281. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1281"