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Ant-lepidopteran associations along African forest edges

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Abstract

Working along forest edges, we aimed to determine how some caterpillars can co-exist with territorially dominant arboreal ants (TDAAs) in tropical Africa. We recorded caterpillars from 22 lepidopteran species living in the presence of five TDAA species. Among the defoliator and/or nectarivorous caterpillars that live on tree foliage, the Pyralidae and Nymphalidae use their silk to protect themselves from ant attacks. The Notodontidae and lycaenid Polyommatinae and Theclinae live in direct contact with ants; the Theclinae even reward ants with abundant secretions from their Newcomer gland. Lichen feeders (lycaenid; Poritiinae), protected by long bristles, also live among ants. Some lycaenid Miletinae caterpillars feed on ant-attended membracids, including in the shelters where the ants attend them; Lachnocnema caterpillars use their forelegs to obtain trophallaxis from their host ants. Caterpillars from other species live inside weaver ant nests. Those of the genus Euliphyra (Miletinae) feed on ant prey and brood and can obtain trophallaxis, while those from an Eberidae species only prey on host ant eggs. Eublemma albifascia (Erebidae) caterpillars use their thoracic legs to obtain trophallaxis and trophic eggs from ants. Through transfer bioassays of last instars, we noted that herbivorous caterpillars living in contact with ants were always accepted by alien conspecific ants; this is likely due to an intrinsic appeasing odor. Yet, caterpillars living in ant shelters or ant nests probably acquire cues from their host colonies because they were considered aliens and killed. We conclude that co-evolution with ants occurred similarly in the Heterocera and Rhopalocera.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Jean-Louis Amiet (University Yaounde I, Cameroon); Dr. Ian Richardson (Durfort Lacapelette, France); Drs. Joël Minet and Jacques Pierre (Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France); and Dr. Martin R. Honey (Natural History Museum, London, UK) for information and identification of Lepidoptera specimens; and to Andrea Yockey-Dejean for proofreading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecolab, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, UPS-ECOLAB, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France

    Alain Dejean, Frédéric Azémar & Arthur Compin

  2. CNRS, UMR EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, Cirad, INRA, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, 97310, Kourou, France

    Alain Dejean, Bruno Hérault & Jérôme Orivel

  3. 8 rue Henry Barbet, 76000, Rouen, France

    Michel Libert

  4. 57 rue Genot, 4032, Chênée, Belgium

    Thierry Bouyer

  5. CNRS, UMR Laboratoire Microorganismes, Génome et Environnement, Université Blaise Pascal, Complexe Scientifique des Cézeaux, 63177, Aubière Cedex, France

    Bruno Corbara

  6. Université Clermont Auvergne, Université Blaise Pascal (LMGE), 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Bruno Corbara

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  1. Alain Dejean
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Correspondence to Alain Dejean.

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Dejean, A., Azémar, F., Libert, M. et al. Ant-lepidopteran associations along African forest edges. Sci Nat 104, 7 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-016-1424-6

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