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<p>The Neotropical myrmicine ant, <i>Pheidole gouldi</i>, has a restricted range, from central Mexico to Costa Rica. This species has been poorly studied, and our understanding of its biology and ecology is fragmented. Here, we report on the co-occurrence of dipteran and hymenopteran parasitoids attacking a coastal population of this ant. Colonies or parts of colonies of <i>P. gouldi</i> nesting in soil, beneath stones, and within decaying coconut shells were collected over the course of both the dry and rainy seasons. Field observations on nest relocation and foraging were performed during the rainy season. Larvae and pupae were parasitized by the eucharitid wasp <i>Orasema evansi</i>, while adult workers were attacked by a species of ant-decapitating phorid fly of the <i>Apocephalus grandipalpis</i> complex group, during nest relocation or foraging. We used an integrated approach to match the eucharitid species to <i>O. evansi</i>, a long-known but only recently described species. The parasitism rate by <i>Orasema</i> during the rainy season represented up to 15% of available brood, at the time that attacks by phorids were taking place. Although an assessment of phorid parasitism was not possible, their presence could have significant ecological implications for both the ant host and co-occurring parasitoids, due to their spatial and temporal impact on ant foraging patterns and by disturbing transport behavior during nest relocation, including transport of parasitized hosts and wasp immatures. Further research is required to demonstrate if there is any interference competition between the two specialized ant parasitoids, or whether their effects are complementary and contribute to host population regulation.</p>

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Co-occurrence of parasitoids from two distinct insect orders in a population of the myrmicine ant, Pheidole gouldi, in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年2月10日

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  • G. Pérez-Lachaud,
  • J.-P. Lachaud

摘要

The Neotropical myrmicine ant, Pheidole gouldi, has a restricted range, from central Mexico to Costa Rica. This species has been poorly studied, and our understanding of its biology and ecology is fragmented. Here, we report on the co-occurrence of dipteran and hymenopteran parasitoids attacking a coastal population of this ant. Colonies or parts of colonies of P. gouldi nesting in soil, beneath stones, and within decaying coconut shells were collected over the course of both the dry and rainy seasons. Field observations on nest relocation and foraging were performed during the rainy season. Larvae and pupae were parasitized by the eucharitid wasp Orasema evansi, while adult workers were attacked by a species of ant-decapitating phorid fly of the Apocephalus grandipalpis complex group, during nest relocation or foraging. We used an integrated approach to match the eucharitid species to O. evansi, a long-known but only recently described species. The parasitism rate by Orasema during the rainy season represented up to 15% of available brood, at the time that attacks by phorids were taking place. Although an assessment of phorid parasitism was not possible, their presence could have significant ecological implications for both the ant host and co-occurring parasitoids, due to their spatial and temporal impact on ant foraging patterns and by disturbing transport behavior during nest relocation, including transport of parasitized hosts and wasp immatures. Further research is required to demonstrate if there is any interference competition between the two specialized ant parasitoids, or whether their effects are complementary and contribute to host population regulation.