Title: | Parasitoid secretions provoke ant warfare |
Author(s): | Thomas JA; Knapp JJ; Akino T; Gerty S; Wakamura S; Simcox DJ; Wardlaw JC; Elmes GW; |
Address: | "Centre of Ecology and Hydrology (NERC), Winfrith Technology Centre, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8ZD, UK. jat@ceh.ac.uk" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0028-0836 (Print) 0028-0836 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Insect social parasites are extreme specialists that typically use mimicry or stealth to enter ant colonies to exploit the rich, but fiercely protected, resources within their nests. Here we show how a parasitic wasp (parasitoid) contrives to reach its host, itself an endangered species of social parasite that lives inside the brood chambers of ant nests, by releasing semiochemicals to induce in-fighting between worker ants, locking the colony in combat and leaving it underprotected. Four of these chemicals are new to biology and have the potential to control pest species by inducing different agonistic behaviours in ants" |
Keywords: | "Aggression/*physiology Alcohols/analysis Aldehydes/analysis Animals Ants/*parasitology/*physiology Biological Assay Chromatography, Gas Female Male Pest Control, Biological Pheromones/chemistry/*metabolism Wasps/*metabolism;" |
Notes: | "MedlineThomas, J A Knapp, J J Akino, T Gerty, S Wakamura, S Simcox, D J Wardlaw, J C Elmes, G W eng England 2002/05/31 Nature. 2002 May 30; 417(6888):505-6. doi: 10.1038/417505a" |