Declassifying Myrmecophily in the Coleoptera to Promote the Study of Ant-Beetle Symbioses
The symbiotic associations between beetles and ants have been observed in at least 35 beetle families. Among myrmecophiles, beetles exhibit the most diverse behavioral and morphological adaptations to a life with ants. These various associations have historically been grouped into discrete but overl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/696401 |
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| _version_ | 1832564279945986048 |
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| author | Glené Mynhardt |
| author_facet | Glené Mynhardt |
| author_sort | Glené Mynhardt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The symbiotic associations between beetles and ants have been observed in at least 35 beetle families. Among myrmecophiles, beetles exhibit the most diverse behavioral and morphological adaptations to a life with ants. These various associations have historically been grouped into discrete but overlapping behavioral categories, many of which are still used in the modern literature. While these behavioral classifications provide a rich foundation for the study of ant-beetle symbioses, the application of these systems in future studies may be less than effective. Since morphological characteristics often provide the only information of myrmecophilous beetles, they should be studied in a species-by-species fashion, as behavioral data are often limited or unavailable. Similarly, behavioral studies should focus on the target species at hand, avoiding discrete classification schemes. I formally propose the rejection of any classification scheme, in order to promote future studies of myrmecophily in both taxonomic and evolutionary studies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9a24a1df94d34cbdb58b3c01cc4dbade |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0033-2615 1687-7438 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| spelling | doaj-art-9a24a1df94d34cbdb58b3c01cc4dbade2025-02-03T01:11:27ZengWileyPsyche: A Journal of Entomology0033-26151687-74382013-01-01201310.1155/2013/696401696401Declassifying Myrmecophily in the Coleoptera to Promote the Study of Ant-Beetle SymbiosesGlené Mynhardt0Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 253 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USAThe symbiotic associations between beetles and ants have been observed in at least 35 beetle families. Among myrmecophiles, beetles exhibit the most diverse behavioral and morphological adaptations to a life with ants. These various associations have historically been grouped into discrete but overlapping behavioral categories, many of which are still used in the modern literature. While these behavioral classifications provide a rich foundation for the study of ant-beetle symbioses, the application of these systems in future studies may be less than effective. Since morphological characteristics often provide the only information of myrmecophilous beetles, they should be studied in a species-by-species fashion, as behavioral data are often limited or unavailable. Similarly, behavioral studies should focus on the target species at hand, avoiding discrete classification schemes. I formally propose the rejection of any classification scheme, in order to promote future studies of myrmecophily in both taxonomic and evolutionary studies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/696401 |
| spellingShingle | Glené Mynhardt Declassifying Myrmecophily in the Coleoptera to Promote the Study of Ant-Beetle Symbioses Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| title | Declassifying Myrmecophily in the Coleoptera to Promote the Study of Ant-Beetle Symbioses |
| title_full | Declassifying Myrmecophily in the Coleoptera to Promote the Study of Ant-Beetle Symbioses |
| title_fullStr | Declassifying Myrmecophily in the Coleoptera to Promote the Study of Ant-Beetle Symbioses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Declassifying Myrmecophily in the Coleoptera to Promote the Study of Ant-Beetle Symbioses |
| title_short | Declassifying Myrmecophily in the Coleoptera to Promote the Study of Ant-Beetle Symbioses |
| title_sort | declassifying myrmecophily in the coleoptera to promote the study of ant beetle symbioses |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/696401 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT glenemynhardt declassifyingmyrmecophilyinthecoleopteratopromotethestudyofantbeetlesymbioses |