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Temnothorax nylanderi

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Temnothorax nylanderi
Temnothorax nylanderi worker
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Genus: Temnothorax
Species:
T. nylanderi
Binomial name
Temnothorax nylanderi
(Foerster, 1850)[1]

Temnothorax nylanderi is a species of ant in the genus Temnothorax.[2] The species is found in western Europe. It was first described by Förster (1850) based on a male from Germany.[3]

Subspecies

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  • Temnothorax nylanderi nylanderonigriceps (Stitz, 1939)

Ecology

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Temnothorax nylanderi lives in the litter, and nests can be found in small cavities in twigs and acorns for example. Nests usually contain less than 400 individuals, among them a single queen.[4] Study shows that if these ants live socially isolated, their interaction with their colony members decreases and their stress response changes.[5]

Repartition

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Temnothorax nylanderi is widely distributed across Western Europe, and a parapatric species (Temnothorax crassispinus) is found in Eastern Europe.[6] Hybridization can occur between the two species.[7]

Morphology

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Temnothorax nylanderi workers are known to have important size variations that do not seem to result from adaptations to their environment, but rather from a lack of canalization during larval development, likely to occur as these ants live in an environment where humidity and temperature can vary greatly.[8] Intercaste individuals that share morphological traits of queens and workers are known to occur frequently.[9] The morphology of these ants can be changed by a parasite, Anomotaenia brevis, that increases the amount of intercaste individuals and induces a change of colors (individuals infected by the cestod are more pale than other individuals).[10]

References

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  1. ^ Förster A (1850). Hymenopterologische Studien. 1. Formicariae. Aachen: Ernst Ter Meer. p. 74.
  2. ^ Bolton B (2015). "Temnothorax nylanderi". AntCat. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  3. ^ Radchenko AG (2000). "What is "Leptothorax nylanderi" (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Russian and former Soviet literature?". Annales Zoologici. 50 (1): 43–45.
  4. ^ Scharf I, Modlmeier AP, Fries S, Tirard C, Foitzik S (2012-03-21). "Characterizing the collective personality of ant societies: aggressive colonies do not abandon their home". PLOS ONE. 7 (3): e33314. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...733314S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0033314. PMC 3310061. PMID 22457751.
  5. ^ Scharf I, Stoldt M, Libbrecht R, Höpfner AL, Jongepier E, Kever M, Foitzik S (May 2021). "Social isolation causes downregulation of immune and stress response genes and behavioural changes in a social insect". Molecular Ecology. 30 (10): 2378–2389. Bibcode:2021MolEc..30.2378S. doi:10.1111/mec.15902. PMID 33772940. S2CID 232386870. Lay summary in: "Ant responses to social isolation resemble those of humans". Phys.org. 7 April 2021.
  6. ^ Pusch K, Seifert B, Foitzik S, Heinze J (June 2006). "Distribution and genetic divergence of two parapatric sibling ant species in Central Europe". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 88 (2): 223–34. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2006.00618.x.
  7. ^ Pusch K, Heinze J, Foitzik S (December 2006). "The influence of hybridization on colony structure in the ant species Temnothorax nylanderi and T. crassispinus". Insectes Sociaux. 53 (4): 439–445. doi:10.1007/s00040-005-0891-8. S2CID 13576455.
  8. ^ Colin T, Doums C, Péronnet R, Molet M (June 2017). "Decreasing worker size diversity does not affect colony performance during laboratory challenges in the ant Temnothorax nylanderi" (PDF). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 71 (6): 92. doi:10.1007/s00265-017-2322-4. S2CID 6373423.
  9. ^ Okada Y, Plateaux L, Peeters C (August 2013). "Morphological variability of intercastes in the ant Temnothorax nylanderi: pattern of trait expression and modularity". Insectes Sociaux. 60 (3): 319–328. doi:10.1007/s00040-013-0296-4. S2CID 6670560.
  10. ^ Lerp H, Mazur J, Binder H, Beros S, Foitzik S, Feldmeyer (July 2014). Parasite-induced changes in host behavior and gene expression after infection (PDF). 17th Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI). Cairns, Australia. OR349.
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