In a substantial discovery, Michelle Kirchner from North Carolina State University recorded a whole nest of the unusual Aphaenogaster mariae Forel ants in North Carolina’s Triangle area. This unusual types, usually discovered in tree canopies, was formerly little understood, without any records of the male ants. Credit: Matt Bertone
Michelle Kirchner’s discovery of an uncommon ant nest in North Carolina clarifies a < period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>species</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>A species is a group of living organisms that share a set of common characteristics and are able to breed and produce fertile offspring. The concept of a species is important in biology as it is used to classify and organize the diversity of life. There are different ways to define a species, but the most widely accepted one is the biological species concept, which defines a species as a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce viable offspring in nature. This definition is widely used in evolutionary biology and ecology to identify and classify living organisms.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex ="0" function ="link" > types formerly little understood, triggering more environmental research study.
There’s a types of ant that is so unusual, that just a handful of records exist from throughout the whole easternUnitedStates < period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>North Carolina State University</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, North Carolina State University (also referred to as NCSU, NC State, or just State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. NC State offers a wide range of academic programs and disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, business, and education. It is known for its strong programs in engineering, science, and technology and is a leader in research and innovation. It forms one of the corners of the Research Triangle together with Duke University in Durham and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. </div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex ="0" function ="link" >NorthCarolinaStateUniversity scientistMichelleKirchner not just discovered these ants in theTriangle area ofNorth Carolina, she is the very first to record a whole nest for researchers, taxonomists and ant-thusiasts all over.
UniqueHabitat andCharacteristics
Aphaenogaster mariaeForel are an uncommon kind of spine-wasted ant.(********************************************************************* )their cousins that nest mainly in the sediment of forest floorings, these ants live the majority of their lives high in tree canopies. This arboreal lifecycle is a relatively typical practice for ants in tropical locations, however little bit was understood about the existence or occurrence of arboreal ants in the Triangle, previously.
“I was not expecting to find these ants at all, so I was shocked when I found an entire colony,” states Michelle Kirchner, lead author of a paper on the work and aPh D. trainee in used ecology and entomology at NC State “With the whole colony, we’re able to document every life stage of this rare ant species, which is a first for science.”
A Breakthrough in Ant Research
Until now, there were no photos or recorded collections of the males of this types. Likewise, it is unidentified the number of populations exist, where they are, or what environments they choose. However, these brand-new, comprehensive descriptions of all members of the nest supply some hints.
“The queens of these species are pretty small compared to other ant queens,” statesKirchner “This small body type is similar to parasitic ant queens since being small makes them more easily mistaken as a fellow worker ant by a colony she is about to infiltrate.”
Around 250 types of ant have actually been determined in North Carolina, and Kirchner’s rediscovery of this types assists us much better comprehend the distinct makeup of North Carolina’s biodiversity.
The Significance and Future Research
“We don’t know how important this species is to the ecology of forests in the Triangle,” statesKirchner “This different surveying effort has changed what we’re finding and our perspective on what’s possible out there. There are still discoveries to be made, even in the Neuse River game lands.”
“This is a great case of a species that’s so rarely encountered that it’s impossible to draw any conclusions about how rare it actually is or isn’t,” states Elsa Youngsteadt, a teacher of used ecology at NC State and co-author of the research study. “Michelle’s observations suggest that these species are fairly localized, but more work needs to be done.”
Reference: “Colony structure and redescription of males in the hardly ever gathered arboreal ant, Aphaenogaster mariae Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)” by Michelle Kirchner, Matthew Bertone, Bonnie B. Blaimer and Elsa Youngsteadt, 16 November 2023, Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
DOI: 10.4289/0013-87971251.77
The paper was co-authored by Matthew Bertone of NC State University and Bonnie Blaimer of the Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science.
