Fire Ants Feed Their Nestmates with Their Own Venom

Elsevier

Available online 12 August 2022, 104437

Journal of Insect PhysiologyHighlights•

Venom alkaloids were found in crops and midguts of red imported fire ants.

Alkaloids occurred at concentrations reported to be effective antimicrobial.

Trophallaxis must be involved in the transfer of venom alkaloids.

New queen provided alkaloids to her minim larvae in the new colony.

After minim adult workers emerged, they provided alkaloids to the larvae in the colony.

Abstract

Venom secretion is widely used by ants for disease control and more generally as an external surface disinfectant. Here we report evidence that Solenopsis invicta feed their nestmates with their own venom. Venom alkaloids were found in crops and midguts of ants at concentration levels that have previously been reported as effective against various pathogens. These venom alkaloids were found in midguts of the larvae, indicating that trophallaxis must be involved in the transfer of venom, since larvae do not produce alkaloids and they depend on workers to be fed. After the mating flight, the female alates shed their wings, burrow into the soil, and start new colonies. The new queen provided alkaloids to her first batch of larvae in the new colony. Since the crops of female alates contain venom alkaloids donated from their nestmate workers, the transfer of worker alkaloids to new generation occurred. After minim adult workers emerged, they took the role in providing venom to the larvae in the colony. Minim adult workers eventually died out and the normal workers became the venom donors in the colony. Although other functions may be possible, considering the well-known antimicrobial property of venom alkaloids and their detected concentration levels, venom in the digestive system is most likely used as an internal antibiotic by fire ants.

Keywords

Social insects

crops

midguts

venom alkaloids

internal medication

Data Availability

Data generated and used in this manuscript is available from Dryad Digital Repository https://datadryad.org/stash/share/4djIs6pISXB-yrbL3C-PMleqDhefbALd5VuoWsgreXk

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Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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