91 replies to this topic

[Daniel]

Congratulations and thank you for your contributions.

[PurdueEntomology]

Update:

 

We were able to run a phylogeny with 40K nucleotide base pair sequences formed from 343 contigs (these are fragments of ~150bp nucleotide sequences) .  We have learned that the new ant is definitely not T. sessile and not T. schreiberi, so we have genetically confirmed it as a new species of Tapinoma. Now I am writing the paper to be submitted for publication to the Insect Systematics and Diversity  Journal of the Entomological Society of America. I am traveling to the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian in early November to sort through their T. sessile collection to see if the new species has been misidentified, I need to find if it has as we are trying to get a natural range and with only two known Tennessee locations a minimum of 3 locations is required to start to speculate on natural range.  

 

Interestingly I am keeping two nests of this new ant: 1 queen with workers and brood constitute a nest.  Both produce male reproductives but one produced an alate queen early this spring but then the mother queen died.  In May the daughter pulled off her wings.  I assumed she mated with her brothers.  Now she has started laying, so it seems I was able to culture these ants to produce reproductives, have them mate while containerized.  

[NicholasP]

Update:

 

We were able to run a phylogeny with 40K nucleotide base pair sequences formed from 343 contigs (these are fragments of ~150bp nucleotide sequences) .  We have learned that the new ant is definitely not T. sessile and not T. schreiberi, so we have genetically confirmed it as a new species of Tapinoma. Now I am writing the paper to be submitted for publication to the Insect Systematics and Diversity  Journal of the Entomological Society of America. I am traveling to the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian in early November to sort through their T. sessile collection to see if the new species has been misidentified, I need to find if it has as we are trying to get a natural range and with only two known Tennessee locations a minimum of 3 locations is required to start to speculate on natural range.  

 

Interestingly I am keeping two nests of this new ant: 1 queen with workers and brood constitute a nest.  Both produce male reproductives but one produced an alate queen early this spring but then the mother queen died.  In May the daughter pulled off her wings.  I assumed she mated with her brothers.  Now she has started laying, so it seems I was able to culture these ants to produce reproductives, have them mate while containerized.  

So Tapinoma sessile isn't the only native Tapinoma species in the U.S.?!

Edited by NicholasP, September 29 2022 - 10:12 AM.

[PurdueEntomology]

 

Update:

 

We were able to run a phylogeny with 40K nucleotide base pair sequences formed from 343 contigs (these are fragments of ~150bp nucleotide sequences) .  We have learned that the new ant is definitely not T. sessile and not T. schreiberi, so we have genetically confirmed it as a new species of Tapinoma. Now I am writing the paper to be submitted for publication to the Insect Systematics and Diversity  Journal of the Entomological Society of America. I am traveling to the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian in early November to sort through their T. sessile collection to see if the new species has been misidentified, I need to find if it has as we are trying to get a natural range and with only two known Tennessee locations a minimum of 3 locations is required to start to speculate on natural range.  

 

Interestingly I am keeping two nests of this new ant: 1 queen with workers and brood constitute a nest.  Both produce male reproductives but one produced an alate queen early this spring but then the mother queen died.  In May the daughter pulled off her wings.  I assumed she mated with her brothers.  Now she has started laying, so it seems I was able to culture these ants to produce reproductives, have them mate while containerized.  

So Tapinoma sessile isn't the only native Tapinoma species in the U.S.?!

 

 NO, we have three four endemics, along with two as of yet unpublished parasitic species to T. sessile and one invasive. Endemics: T. sessile, T. schreiberi, T. litorale, and T. helenae sp. nov. as for the two parasitic they have not been given specific names and as for the invasive, T. melanocephalum. After Australia, North America is the least species dense continent for this genus, the majority species rich being African.

Edited by PurdueEntomology, September 29 2022 - 12:07 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Congrats again! We should meet up when you come to DC.

[bmb1bee]

There are parasitic species of Tapinoma?? Those sound pretty cool. Do you know how their parasitism works? I'm curious...

[PurdueEntomology]

Congrats again! We should meet up when you come to DC.

PM me and I will give you the itinerary and contact information.

[PurdueEntomology]

There are parasitic species of Tapinoma?? Those sound pretty cool. Do you know how their parasitism works? I'm curious...

In personal communications with the researcher from Harvard they have been identified as Tapinoma and they are definitely parasitic, as for their biology since they were only recently discovered that information has not been obtained.  I am awaiting another conversation with that researcher so I will definitely discuss and add more to this when I learn more.  As is often the case it is easier to taxonomically delimit a species but getting biological information takes time and so many, most in fact of even our described species little is known of their biology, let alone parasitic species like these, when they are known only from literally 2-3 known specimens.  But, if you live along the east coast and you collect Tapinoma sessile I can say be mindful of colonies from end of July -August as that seems to be the time when parasitic alate females are present.

[Ants_Dakota]

 

There are parasitic species of Tapinoma?? Those sound pretty cool. Do you know how their parasitism works? I'm curious...

In personal communications with the researcher from Harvard they have been identified as Tapinoma and they are definitely parasitic, as for their biology since they were only recently discovered that information has not been obtained.  I am awaiting another conversation with that researcher so I will definitely discuss and add more to this when I learn more.  As is often the case it is easier to taxonomically delimit a species but getting biological information takes time and so many, most in fact of even our described species little is known of their biology, let alone parasitic species like these, when they are known only from literally 2-3 known specimens.  But, if you live along the east coast and you collect Tapinoma sessile I can say be mindful of colonies from end of July -August as that seems to be the time when parasitic alate females are present.

 

I would love to get you some samples from the black hills when i go there next, as the ants there are very wild, living under rocks and stones, not in urban areas

[NicholasP]

 

There are parasitic species of Tapinoma?? Those sound pretty cool. Do you know how their parasitism works? I'm curious...

In personal communications with the researcher from Harvard they have been identified as Tapinoma and they are definitely parasitic, as for their biology since they were only recently discovered that information has not been obtained.  I am awaiting another conversation with that researcher so I will definitely discuss and add more to this when I learn more.  As is often the case it is easier to taxonomically delimit a species but getting biological information takes time and so many, most in fact of even our described species little is known of their biology, let alone parasitic species like these, when they are known only from literally 2-3 known specimens.  But, if you live along the east coast and you collect Tapinoma sessile I can say be mindful of colonies from end of July -August as that seems to be the time when parasitic alate females are present.

 

Are there any parasitic female records here in Michigan? Also, do you need more Tapinoma specimens? Because I have access to Tapinoma in my backyard.

Edited by NicholasP, September 30 2022 - 9:10 AM.

[PurdueEntomology]

 

 

There are parasitic species of Tapinoma?? Those sound pretty cool. Do you know how their parasitism works? I'm curious...

In personal communications with the researcher from Harvard they have been identified as Tapinoma and they are definitely parasitic, as for their biology since they were only recently discovered that information has not been obtained.  I am awaiting another conversation with that researcher so I will definitely discuss and add more to this when I learn more.  As is often the case it is easier to taxonomically delimit a species but getting biological information takes time and so many, most in fact of even our described species little is known of their biology, let alone parasitic species like these, when they are known only from literally 2-3 known specimens.  But, if you live along the east coast and you collect Tapinoma sessile I can say be mindful of colonies from end of July -August as that seems to be the time when parasitic alate females are present.

 

Are there any parasitic female records here in Michigan? Also, do you need more Tapinoma specimens? Because I have access to Tapinoma in my backyard.

 

I am not aware of any records for Michigan.  I am always looking for more US and Canadian samples of T. sessile, preferably from natural environments.  PM me for details if you decide to collect as I need a set of collection data.  Thanks.

[PurdueEntomology]

 

 

There are parasitic species of Tapinoma?? Those sound pretty cool. Do you know how their parasitism works? I'm curious...

In personal communications with the researcher from Harvard they have been identified as Tapinoma and they are definitely parasitic, as for their biology since they were only recently discovered that information has not been obtained.  I am awaiting another conversation with that researcher so I will definitely discuss and add more to this when I learn more.  As is often the case it is easier to taxonomically delimit a species but getting biological information takes time and so many, most in fact of even our described species little is known of their biology, let alone parasitic species like these, when they are known only from literally 2-3 known specimens.  But, if you live along the east coast and you collect Tapinoma sessile I can say be mindful of colonies from end of July -August as that seems to be the time when parasitic alate females are present.

 

I would love to get you some samples from the black hills when i go there next, as the ants there are very wild, living under rocks and stones, not in urban areas

 

Ants_Dakota, if you could get me gynes and workers from the Dakota region that would be great, I do not have any from that area and would be good for a more extensive phylogenetic study to fill in some of the that gap in my trans continental analysis.  PM if you need further instructions on sampling, preparation and shipping.