Most described Mesozoic ants belong to stem groups that existed only during the Cretaceous period.Previously,the earliest known crown ants were dated to the Turonian(Late Cretaceous,ca.94-90 million years ago(Ma))depo...Most described Mesozoic ants belong to stem groups that existed only during the Cretaceous period.Previously,the earliest known crown ants were dated to the Turonian(Late Cretaceous,ca.94-90 million years ago(Ma))deposits found in the USA,Kazakhstan,and Botswana.However,the recent discovery of an alate male ant in Kachin amber from the earliest Cenomanian(ca.99 Ma),representing a new genus and species,Antiquiformica alata,revises the narrative on ant diversification.Antiquiformica can be distinctly differentiated from all known male stem ants by its geniculate antennae with elongated scape,extending far beyond the occipital margin of the head and half the length of the funiculus,as well as its partly reduced forewing venation.Furthermore,the combination of a one-segmented waist with a well-developed node,elongated scape extending beyond the occipital margin,and reduced forewing venation,particularly the completely reduced m-cu and rs-m crossveins and absence of rm and mcu closed cells,firmly places the fossil within the extant subfamily Formicinae.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)confirmed that the amber containing Antiquiformica alata originated from the Kachin mines in Myanmar.This discovery significantly revises our understanding of the early evolution of Formicinae.The presence of Antiquiformica in Cenomanian amber indicates that the subfamily Formicinae emerged at least by the start of the Late Cretaceous,with crown ants likely originating earlier during the earliest Cretaceous or possibly the Late Jurassic,although paleontological evidence is lacking to support the latter hypothesis.展开更多
Climatic conditions affect the richness of ants resulting in number variation throughout the year. The ants present in the Neotropical system <em>Acacia-Pseudomyrmex</em> have been previously studied consi...Climatic conditions affect the richness of ants resulting in number variation throughout the year. The ants present in the Neotropical system <em>Acacia-Pseudomyrmex</em> have been previously studied considering only one sampling season. In contrast, in this study we analyze the richness in two ant-acacia systems during the rainy and dry seasons. The study was carried out on a plot located in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico where 14 ant species, 3 mutualistic and 11 non-mutualistic were found, of which 2 represent new records for the state. Ant species number differed between ant-acacia species and between seasons. The highest richness was recorded in <em>Acacia hindsii</em> in both rainy and dry seasons, corresponding with a low-reward host. During the dry season, <em>A. hindsii </em>represents a highly valuable resource. This study shows that the neotropical system is much more dynamic than it has been previously considered and offers a valuable opportunity for subsequent ecological studies for a better understanding of this complex system.展开更多
Three species of the ant genus Echinopla are recognized in China:E.cherapunjiensis,E.striata and E.lateropilosa.The last one is recorded for the first time in China.Morphological descriptions,measurements,distribution...Three species of the ant genus Echinopla are recognized in China:E.cherapunjiensis,E.striata and E.lateropilosa.The last one is recorded for the first time in China.Morphological descriptions,measurements,distribution and high-resolution color pictures of the worker caste of each species are provided.A key to the known Chinese species based on worker caste is presented.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32270467,32020103006)National Research Foundation of Ukraine(2020/02/0369 to A.G.R.)CONCYTEC through the PROCIENCIA“Interinstitutional Alliances for Doctorate Programs”(PE501084299-2023-PROCIENCIA-BM to M.S.E.)。
文摘Most described Mesozoic ants belong to stem groups that existed only during the Cretaceous period.Previously,the earliest known crown ants were dated to the Turonian(Late Cretaceous,ca.94-90 million years ago(Ma))deposits found in the USA,Kazakhstan,and Botswana.However,the recent discovery of an alate male ant in Kachin amber from the earliest Cenomanian(ca.99 Ma),representing a new genus and species,Antiquiformica alata,revises the narrative on ant diversification.Antiquiformica can be distinctly differentiated from all known male stem ants by its geniculate antennae with elongated scape,extending far beyond the occipital margin of the head and half the length of the funiculus,as well as its partly reduced forewing venation.Furthermore,the combination of a one-segmented waist with a well-developed node,elongated scape extending beyond the occipital margin,and reduced forewing venation,particularly the completely reduced m-cu and rs-m crossveins and absence of rm and mcu closed cells,firmly places the fossil within the extant subfamily Formicinae.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)confirmed that the amber containing Antiquiformica alata originated from the Kachin mines in Myanmar.This discovery significantly revises our understanding of the early evolution of Formicinae.The presence of Antiquiformica in Cenomanian amber indicates that the subfamily Formicinae emerged at least by the start of the Late Cretaceous,with crown ants likely originating earlier during the earliest Cretaceous or possibly the Late Jurassic,although paleontological evidence is lacking to support the latter hypothesis.
文摘Climatic conditions affect the richness of ants resulting in number variation throughout the year. The ants present in the Neotropical system <em>Acacia-Pseudomyrmex</em> have been previously studied considering only one sampling season. In contrast, in this study we analyze the richness in two ant-acacia systems during the rainy and dry seasons. The study was carried out on a plot located in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico where 14 ant species, 3 mutualistic and 11 non-mutualistic were found, of which 2 represent new records for the state. Ant species number differed between ant-acacia species and between seasons. The highest richness was recorded in <em>Acacia hindsii</em> in both rainy and dry seasons, corresponding with a low-reward host. During the dry season, <em>A. hindsii </em>represents a highly valuable resource. This study shows that the neotropical system is much more dynamic than it has been previously considered and offers a valuable opportunity for subsequent ecological studies for a better understanding of this complex system.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31960108)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi(2018GXNSFAA294005)+1 种基金the National Animal Collection Resource Center of China,the Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection(Guangxi Normal University)the Ministry of Education and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology(Guangxi Normal University)。
文摘Three species of the ant genus Echinopla are recognized in China:E.cherapunjiensis,E.striata and E.lateropilosa.The last one is recorded for the first time in China.Morphological descriptions,measurements,distribution and high-resolution color pictures of the worker caste of each species are provided.A key to the known Chinese species based on worker caste is presented.
