Symbiont-mediated digestion of plant biomass in fungus-farming insects
Feeding on living or dead plant material is widespread in insects. Seminal work on termites
and aphids has provided profound insights into the critical nutritional role that microbes play …
and aphids has provided profound insights into the critical nutritional role that microbes play …
Nutrient regulation in ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a review
As for all living organisms, the nutritional needs of ants change over time in response to
varying environmental conditions and demands for growth, health, and reproduction …
varying environmental conditions and demands for growth, health, and reproduction …
Bumblebees adjust protein and lipid collection rules to the presence of brood
Animals have evolved foraging strategies to acquire blends of nutrients that maximize fitness
traits. In social insects, nutrient regulation is complicated by the fact that few individuals, the …
traits. In social insects, nutrient regulation is complicated by the fact that few individuals, the …
Phylogenomic species delimitation and host‐symbiont coevolution in the fungus‐farming ant genus Sericomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): ultraconserved …
Ants in the N eotropical genus S ericomyrmex M ayr cultivate fungi for food. Both ants and
fungi are obligate, coevolved symbionts. The taxonomy of S ericomyrmex is problematic …
fungi are obligate, coevolved symbionts. The taxonomy of S ericomyrmex is problematic …
Phylogenetic patterns of ant–fungus associations indicate that farming strategies, not only a superior fungal cultivar, explain the ecological success of leafcutter ants
To elucidate fungicultural specializations contributing to ecological dominance of leafcutter
ants, we estimate the phylogeny of fungi cultivated by fungus‐growing (attine) ants …
ants, we estimate the phylogeny of fungi cultivated by fungus‐growing (attine) ants …
Reconstructing the functions of endosymbiotic Mollicutes in fungus-growing ants
Mollicutes, a widespread class of bacteria associated with animals and plants, were recently
identified as abundant abdominal endosymbionts in healthy workers of attine fungus …
identified as abundant abdominal endosymbionts in healthy workers of attine fungus …
Nutritional niches reveal fundamental domestication trade-offs in fungus-farming ants
During crop domestication, human farmers traded greater productivity for higher crop
vulnerability outside specialized cultivation conditions. We found a similar domestication …
vulnerability outside specialized cultivation conditions. We found a similar domestication …
The evolution of abdominal microbiomes in fungus‐growing ants
The attine ants are a monophyletic lineage that switched to fungus farming ca. 55–60 MYA.
They have become a model for the study of complex symbioses after additional fungal and …
They have become a model for the study of complex symbioses after additional fungal and …
Disentangling nutritional pathways linking leafcutter ants and their co‐evolved fungal symbionts using stable isotopes
Leafcutter ants are the ultimate insect superorganisms, with up to millions of physiologically
specialized workers cooperating to cut and transport vegetation and then convert it into …
specialized workers cooperating to cut and transport vegetation and then convert it into …
Insect diet
An institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC) is a requirement at most institutions
that have animal research or teaching programs in the United States. Similar committees …
that have animal research or teaching programs in the United States. Similar committees …