1988/05/01 by M. W. J. Crosland · 17 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Neuroscience · #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior #Plant and animal studies #Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research #Biology #Hymenoptera #Cuticle (hair) #Parasite hosting #Spore #Zoology #ANT #Pupa #Ecology #Anatomy #Botany #Larva
paper · doi:10.1093/aesa/81.3.481
published in Annals of the Entomological Society of America 81(3), 481-484 (Oxford University Press)
openalex publication_date 1988/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Soft-bodied brown ants were found in some colonies of the black ant Myrmecia pilosula (F. Smith) during the season when young adult workers eclose. Brown workers were previously thought to be young callows whose cuticle had not yet darkened. Strong evidence is presented against this hypothesis. Furthermore, all brown ants dissected (n = 50) were found to contain very many spores of a gregarine protozoan parasite. Normal black workers of M. pilosula usually contained no gregarine spores. Aberrant brown workers discovered in two other species of Myrmecia were also found to have hemocoeles filled with gregarine spores. It seems likely that the gregarine parasite, when present in very large numbers, interferes with the normal darkening of cuticle in the pupal stage, leading to abnormal brown ants.