Myrmecophilus americanus

Saussure, 1877

American ant cricket, ant cricket

Myrmecophilus americanus is a wingless that lives as an obligate within nests. It is kleptoparasitic, feeding on food scraps brought by ants and encouraging them to regurgitate food. The shows to the longhorn crazy ant (Paratrechina longicornis), though occasional records from other ant species exist. Its body shape and size resemble the of the ant , possibly assisting its integration into the colony through .

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Myrmecophilus americanus: /mɪrmɛˈkɒfɪləs əˌmɛrɪˈkeɪnəs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from other by its tiny size, complete absence of , reduced , and association with colonies. Separated from by geographic distribution and ant . The resemblance to ant is a field characteristic when observed within host nests.

Habitat

Strictly confined to nests of , particularly the longhorn crazy ant (Paratrechina longicornis). Subterranean conditions within ant colonies.

Distribution

Recorded from Florida, Cuba, Colombia, Java, and Malaya. New records from Mexico have been documented. The has an Old World origin but occurs in the New World.

Diet

Kleptoparasitic: feeds on food scraps brought back by and obtains food by encouraging workers to regurgitate. Has been observed actively 'licking' ants and nest walls, presumably feeding on oily secretions from .

Host Associations

Paratrechina longicornis - primary Longhorn crazy ; the is largely -specific to this ant

Life Cycle

Development occurs entirely within nests. Specific details of laying, nymphal stages, and development timing are not well documented.

Behavior

Highly agile, capable of rapid movement to escape aggression. Tolerated but not fully accepted by ants; may be attacked or killed and eaten if caught. Uses of ant to facilitate integration into colony.

Ecological Role

that exploits food resources gathered by colonies. Represents a specialized case of (ant association) in .

Human Relevance

No direct economic or medical significance. Of scientific interest as an example of specialized parasitic and - .

Similar Taxa

Myrmecophilus pergandeiEastern North with similar and ; distinguished by geographic range and
Myrmecophilus oregonensisWestern North ranging west of the Cascade Mountains; distinguished by distribution
Myrmecophilus manniWestern North with overlapping range to M. oregonensis; distinguished by specific distribution and associations

More Details

Nomenclature note

Catalogue of Life lists this as a synonym, while GBIF and other sources treat it as accepted. The species was described by Saussure in 1877 and has an Old World origin despite its specific epithet.

Host specificity flexibility

While primarily associated with Paratrechina longicornis, the has been found in at least one other species nest, suggesting some flexibility in use. Other Myrmecophilus species are known to have multiple host species.