Chemical Deception and Structural Adaptation in Microdon (Diptera, Syrphidae, Microdontinae), a Genus of Hoverflies Parasitic on Social Insects
| Autor: | G Scarparo, A. Di Giulio, Patrizia d'Ettorre |
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| Přispěvatelé: | Scarparo, G, D'Ettorre, P, Di Giulio, A |
| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Parasitism Zoology 01 natural sciences Biochemistry Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Host Specificity Host-Parasite Interactions Animals Formica cunicularia Social Behavior Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics biology Host (biology) Ants Diptera Microdontinae General Medicine Feeding Behavior biology.organism_classification Adaptation Physiological Biological Evolution Hydrocarbons Microdon 010602 entomology Chemical mimicry Genetics Population Host specificity Larva Protective structure Lasius emarginatus Social parasites Hoverfly 010606 plant biology & botany |
| Zdroj: | Journal of chemical ecology. 45(11-12) |
| ISSN: | 1573-1561 |
| Popis: | Various organisms, especially arthropods, are able to live as parasites in ant nests and to prey upon ant broods without eliciting any aggressive behaviour in the hosts. Understanding how these intruders are able to break the ants' communication codes in their favour represents a challenging and intriguing evolutionary question. We studied the chemical strategies of three European hoverfly species, Microdon mutabilis (parasitic on Formica cunicularia), M. analis (parasitic on Lasius emarginatus) and M. devius (parasitic on L. distinguendus). The peculiar slug-like larvae of these three species live inside ant nests feeding upon their broods. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses show that: 1) these parasites mimic the host brood rather than the ant workers, although each differs distinctly in the extent of chemical mimicry; 2) isolation experiments indicate that after 14days the responsible cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are not passively acquired but synthesized by the fly larvae. Additionally, Microdon larvae show an array of protective structural features, such as a thick and multi-layered cuticle, retractable head, dome-shaped tergum and a flat and strongly adhesive "foot" (sternum). This combination of protective chemical and structural features represents a successful key innovation by Microdon species, and one that may facilitate host switching. The results of a preliminary adoption analysis confirm that Microdon larvae of at least some species can readily be accepted by different species of ants. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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