The Tergal Gland Secretion of the Two Rare Myrmecophilous Species Zyras collaris and Z. haworthi (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and the Effect on Lasius fuliginosus

The Tergal Gland Secretion of the Two Rare Myrmecophilous Species Zyras collaris and Z. haworthi (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and the Effect on Lasius fuliginosus

The beetle species Zyras collaris and Z. haworthi belong to the rove beetle tribe Myrmedoniini (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), which comprises many myrmecophilous species. Due to their rareness, it is unknown how the two species interact with their host ants. GC-MS analyses revealed that both species...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Michael Stoeffler, Lea Boettinger, Till Tolasch, Johannes L. M. Steidle
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2013-01-01
Series:Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/601073
id doaj-41660dcb8dc64645b63edf971eceddf9
record_format Article
spelling doaj-41660dcb8dc64645b63edf971eceddf92020-11-25T00:00:41ZengHindawi LimitedPsyche: A Journal of Entomology0033-26151687-74382013-01-01201310.1155/2013/601073601073The Tergal Gland Secretion of the Two Rare Myrmecophilous Species Zyras collaris and Z. haworthi (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and the Effect on Lasius fuliginosusMichael Stoeffler0Lea Boettinger1Till Tolasch2Johannes L. M. Steidle3Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Zoologie, Fachgebiet Tierökologie 220c, Garbenstr. 30, 70593 Stuttgart, GermanyUniversität Hohenheim, Institut für Zoologie, Fachgebiet Tierökologie 220c, Garbenstr. 30, 70593 Stuttgart, GermanyUniversität Hohenheim, Institut für Zoologie, Fachgebiet Tierökologie 220c, Garbenstr. 30, 70593 Stuttgart, GermanyUniversität Hohenheim, Institut für Zoologie, Fachgebiet Tierökologie 220c, Garbenstr. 30, 70593 Stuttgart, GermanyThe beetle species Zyras collaris and Z. haworthi belong to the rove beetle tribe Myrmedoniini (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), which comprises many myrmecophilous species. Due to their rareness, it is unknown how the two species interact with their host ants. GC-MS analyses revealed that both species release α-pinene, β-pinene, myrcene and limonene from their defensive tergal glands. This composition of tergal gland secretion is unique within the subfamily Aleocharinae. In biotests, Lasius fuliginosus ants showed increased antennation towards filter paper balls treated with mixtures of these substances in natural concentrations. Because these monoterpenes are also present in some aphid species which are attended by ants, we hypothesize that Zyras beetles mimic the presence of aphids and thereby achieve acceptance by their host ants.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/601073
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Michael Stoeffler
Lea Boettinger
Till Tolasch
Johannes L. M. Steidle
spellingShingle Michael Stoeffler
Lea Boettinger
Till Tolasch
Johannes L. M. Steidle
The Tergal Gland Secretion of the Two Rare Myrmecophilous Species Zyras collaris and Z. haworthi (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and the Effect on Lasius fuliginosus
Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
author_facet Michael Stoeffler
Lea Boettinger
Till Tolasch
Johannes L. M. Steidle
author_sort Michael Stoeffler
title The Tergal Gland Secretion of the Two Rare Myrmecophilous Species Zyras collaris and Z. haworthi (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and the Effect on Lasius fuliginosus
title_short The Tergal Gland Secretion of the Two Rare Myrmecophilous Species Zyras collaris and Z. haworthi (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and the Effect on Lasius fuliginosus
title_full The Tergal Gland Secretion of the Two Rare Myrmecophilous Species Zyras collaris and Z. haworthi (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and the Effect on Lasius fuliginosus
title_fullStr The Tergal Gland Secretion of the Two Rare Myrmecophilous Species Zyras collaris and Z. haworthi (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and the Effect on Lasius fuliginosus
title_full_unstemmed The Tergal Gland Secretion of the Two Rare Myrmecophilous Species Zyras collaris and Z. haworthi (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and the Effect on Lasius fuliginosus
title_sort tergal gland secretion of the two rare myrmecophilous species zyras collaris and z. haworthi (coleoptera: staphylinidae) and the effect on lasius fuliginosus
publisher Hindawi Limited
series Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
issn 0033-2615
1687-7438
publishDate 2013-01-01
description The beetle species Zyras collaris and Z. haworthi belong to the rove beetle tribe Myrmedoniini (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), which comprises many myrmecophilous species. Due to their rareness, it is unknown how the two species interact with their host ants. GC-MS analyses revealed that both species release α-pinene, β-pinene, myrcene and limonene from their defensive tergal glands. This composition of tergal gland secretion is unique within the subfamily Aleocharinae. In biotests, Lasius fuliginosus ants showed increased antennation towards filter paper balls treated with mixtures of these substances in natural concentrations. Because these monoterpenes are also present in some aphid species which are attended by ants, we hypothesize that Zyras beetles mimic the presence of aphids and thereby achieve acceptance by their host ants.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/601073
work_keys_str_mv AT michaelstoeffler thetergalglandsecretionofthetworaremyrmecophilousspecieszyrascollarisandzhaworthicoleopterastaphylinidaeandtheeffectonlasiusfuliginosus
AT leaboettinger thetergalglandsecretionofthetworaremyrmecophilousspecieszyrascollarisandzhaworthicoleopterastaphylinidaeandtheeffectonlasiusfuliginosus
AT tilltolasch thetergalglandsecretionofthetworaremyrmecophilousspecieszyrascollarisandzhaworthicoleopterastaphylinidaeandtheeffectonlasiusfuliginosus
AT johanneslmsteidle thetergalglandsecretionofthetworaremyrmecophilousspecieszyrascollarisandzhaworthicoleopterastaphylinidaeandtheeffectonlasiusfuliginosus
AT michaelstoeffler tergalglandsecretionofthetworaremyrmecophilousspecieszyrascollarisandzhaworthicoleopterastaphylinidaeandtheeffectonlasiusfuliginosus
AT leaboettinger tergalglandsecretionofthetworaremyrmecophilousspecieszyrascollarisandzhaworthicoleopterastaphylinidaeandtheeffectonlasiusfuliginosus
AT tilltolasch tergalglandsecretionofthetworaremyrmecophilousspecieszyrascollarisandzhaworthicoleopterastaphylinidaeandtheeffectonlasiusfuliginosus
AT johanneslmsteidle tergalglandsecretionofthetworaremyrmecophilousspecieszyrascollarisandzhaworthicoleopterastaphylinidaeandtheeffectonlasiusfuliginosus
_version_ 1725444008241528832

Similar Items