Acromyrmex ameliae sp. n. （Hymenoptera： Formicidae）： A new social parasite of leaf-cutting ants in Brazil

作     者：DANIVAL JOSE DE SOUZA ILKA MARIA FERNANDES SOARES TEREZINHA MARIA CASTRO DELLA LUCIA 

作者机构：Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de 1'Insecte Université Francois Rabelais Tours France Departamento de Biologia Animal Laboratório de Ecologia de Comunidades Departamento de Biologia Geral Universidade Federal de Vicosa MG 36570-000 Brazil 

出 版 物：《Insect Science》 (昆虫科学（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2007年第14卷第3期

页      面：251-257页

核心收录：

学科分类：0710[理学-生物学] 07[理学] 09[农学] 

基　　金：We thank M(a)rcio da Silva Ara(u)jo and Manoel Ferreira for their help in collecting field colonies and V & M do Brasil S.A.For support in field work.Dr Jos(e) Eduardo Serr(a)o was of great assistance in photographing the ant bulks.Frederico Falc(a)o Salles gently prepared all illustrations.Cid(a)li(2003-2004) a Doctoral Grant of CAPES.T.M.Delia Lucia thanks to CNPq for financial support 

主　　题：Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants social evolution social parasitism 

摘      要：The fungus-growing ants （Tribe Attini） are a New World group of〉 200 species, all obligate symbionts with a fungus they use for food. Four attine taxa are known to be social parasites of other attines. Acromyrmex （ Pseudoatta） argentina argentina and Acromyrmex （Pseudoatta） argentina platensis （parasites of Acromyrmex lundi）, and Acromyrmex sp. （a parasite of Acromyrmex rugosus） produce no worker caste. In contrast, the recently discovered Acromyrmex insinuator （a parasite of Acromyrmex echinatior） does produce workers. Here, we describe a new species, Acromyrmex ameliae, a social parasite of Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus and Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus in Minas Gerais, Brasil. Like A. insinuator, it produces workers and appears to be closely related to its hosts. Similar social parasites may be fairly common in the fungus-growing ants, but overlooked due to the close resemblance between parasite and host workers.