” I was not anticipating to discover these ants at all, so I was shocked when I discovered an entire nest,” says Michelle Kirchner, lead author of a paper on the work and a Ph.D. trainee in used ecology and entomology at NC State. “With the entire colony, were able to document every life stage of this unusual ant types, which is a very first for science.”
A Breakthrough in Ant Research
Previously, there were no photos or recorded collections of the males of this species. Likewise, it is unknown the number of populations exist, where they are, or what environments they choose. Nevertheless, these brand-new, comprehensive descriptions of all members of the colony offer some ideas.
” The queens of these types are pretty small compared to other ant queens,” states Kirchner. “This little body type resembles parasitic ant queens given that being little makes them more easily mistaken as a fellow worker ant by a nest she will penetrate.”
Around 250 species of ant have actually been determined in North Carolina, and Kirchners rediscovery of this types assists us better understand the special makeup of North Carolinas biodiversity.
The Significance and Future Research
” We do not understand how important this species is to the ecology of forests in the Triangle,” states Kirchner. “This various surveying effort has changed what were discovering and our perspective on whats possible out there. There are still discoveries to be made, even in the Neuse River video game lands.”
” This is a terrific case of a types thats so rarely came across that its impossible to draw any conclusions about how uncommon it actually is or isnt,” states Elsa Youngsteadt, a professor of used ecology at NC State and co-author of the research study. “Michelles observations recommend that these types are relatively localized, but more work requirements to be done.”
Recommendation: “Colony structure and redescription of males in the rarely 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/ 0013-8797.125.1.77.
The paper was co-authored by Matthew Bertone of NC State University and Bonnie Blaimer of the Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science.
In a considerable discovery, Michelle Kirchner from North Carolina State University documented an entire nest of the rare Aphaenogaster mariae Forel ants in North Carolinas Triangle region. This unusual types, normally found in tree canopies, was previously little understood, with no records of the male ants. Credit: Matt Bertone
Michelle Kirchners discovery of an unusual ant colony in North Carolina sheds light on a species previously little comprehended, triggering more ecological research study.
Theres a types of ant that is so uncommon, that just a handful of records exist from across the whole eastern United States. North Carolina State University scientist Michelle Kirchner not just found these ants in the Triangle area of North Carolina, she is the first to record an entire nest for ant-thusiasts, taxonomists and researchers everywhere.
Special Habitat and Characteristics
Aphaenogaster mariae Forel are an unusual type of spine-wasted ant. Unlike their cousins that nest mostly 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, but bit was understood about the presence or frequency of arboreal ants in the Triangle, up until now.
In a significant discovery, Michelle Kirchner from North Carolina State University documented a whole colony of the rare Aphaenogaster mariae Forel ants in North Carolinas Triangle region. This unusual species, generally discovered in tree canopies, was formerly little understood, with no records of the male ants. Aphaenogaster mariae Forel are a rare type of spine-wasted ant. Unlike their cousins that nest mainly in the detritus of forest floorings, these ants live many of their lives high in tree canopies. This arboreal lifecycle is a fairly typical practice for ants in tropical areas, however little was known about the existence or occurrence of arboreal ants in the Triangle, until now.
