Social-parasite

Guides

Anergates atratulus
Anergates atratulus is an extreme workerless social parasite (inquiline) ant that lives exclusively within colonies of Tetramorium host species. It is one of the most specialized ant parasites known, lacking a worker caste entirely and producing only sexual forms (males and queens). The species is IUCN Red-Listed and considered rare across its European range.
social-parasite inquiline workerless IUCN-Red-List Tetramorium Myrmicinae Europe rare extreme-parasitism
Aphaenogaster mariae
Mary's Collared Ant
Aphaenogaster mariae is a rarely collected arboreal ant species endemic to the eastern United States. First described in 1886 from specimens collected in Florida by Mary Treat, it remained poorly known until 2021 when the first complete nest was documented in North Carolina. Unlike most congeners that nest in soil or rotting logs, this species inhabits dead branches and under live bark of mature hardwoods, particularly oaks. The first males were photographed and described in 2023, enabling a complete taxonomic redescription of the caste.
arboreal social-parasite rarely-collected temperate-canopy oak-associated Mary-Treat
Bombus ashtoni
Ashton's cuckoo bumble bee
Bombus ashtoni is a cuckoo bumble bee (subgenus Psithyrus) native to North America. Unlike social bumble bees, this species does not produce workers or construct its own nests. Instead, females infiltrate established colonies of other Bombus species and exploit the host workers to rear their own offspring. This parasitic lifestyle has been documented specifically with hosts including Bombus affinis, Bombus terricola, and Bombus fervidus. The species is subject to the same conservation concerns affecting its host species, particularly the endangered rusty patched bumble bee (B. affinis).
cuckoo-bumble-bee social-parasite Psithyrus pollinator endangered-host-association
Bombus citrinus
lemon cuckoo bumblebee
Bombus citrinus is a cuckoo bumblebee native to eastern North America, recognized by its lemon-yellow coloration. As an obligate social parasite, it invades colonies of other bumblebees, kills the resident queen, and assumes control of the host worker population. It belongs to the subgenus Psithyrus, a group of parasitic bumblebees that have lost the ability to collect pollen and rear their own workers.
cuckoo-bumblebee social-parasite Psithyrus inquiline endangered-hosts chemical-camouflage mauling-behavior eastern-North-America
Bombus flavidus
Yellowish Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Yellowish Cuckoo Bumblebee
Bombus flavidus is a widespread Holarctic cuckoo bumble bee and one of the most broadly distributed bumble bee species globally. As a social parasite, it invades colonies of other bumble bee species rather than building its own nests. Recent taxonomic research has clarified its status, synonymizing the former North American Bombus fernaldae with B. flavidus while recognizing an eastern North American subspecies, B. flavidus appalachiensis.
cuckoo-bumble-bee social-parasite Holarctic synonymized-taxon conservation bumble-bee pollinator parasitic-bee
Bombus flavidus appalachiensis
A subspecies of the cuckoo bumble bee Bombus flavidus endemic to eastern North America, ranging from the Appalachian Mountains to the eastern boreal regions of the United States and far southeastern Canada. Described in 2021 following integrative taxonomic analysis that revealed this population as genetically and morphologically distinct from western North American and Palearctic populations. As a social parasite, this subspecies does not construct colonies or collect pollen but invades nests of other bumble bee species.
cuckoo-bumble-bee social-parasite Appalachian-endemic subspecies integrative-taxonomy Bombus-flavidus-complex eastern-North-America
Bombus insularis
Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee
Bombus insularis is a cuckoo bumble bee in the subgenus Psithyrus, native to northern and western North America. As a social parasite, it invades nests of host bumble bee species, usurps the resident queen, and exploits host workers to rear its own offspring. The species is known for its broad host range, attacking multiple bumble bee species across diverse habitats including tundra, taiga, and mountain ranges.
cuckoo-bumble-bee social-parasite nest-usurpation Psithyrus broad-host-range northern-North-America commercial-pollinator-threat
Bombus suckleyi
Suckley's Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Suckley's Bumble Bee
Bombus suckleyi is a cuckoo bumble bee (subgenus Psithyrus) and obligate social parasite of other Bombus species. It lacks corbiculae (pollen baskets) on its hind legs, having lost the ability to collect pollen and nectar for its own brood. The species invades host colonies, kills or subdues the resident queen, and manipulates host workers to provision its offspring. Native to northwestern North America, it has experienced severe population declines of approximately 77% and is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN and NatureServe.
bumble-bee cuckoo-bee social-parasite pollinator endangered conservation Psithyrus North-America meadow obligate-parasite
Cremastocheilus canaliculatus
anteater scarab beetle
Cremastocheilus canaliculatus is a myrmecophilous scarab beetle in the subfamily Cetoniinae. Adults are approximately 10 mm in length, dull black, flattened, and heavily armored with a dense, pitted exoskeleton. The species is an obligate associate of ant colonies, where adults prey on ant larvae and pupae. It occurs in eastern North America, ranging from Ontario and Quebec south through the eastern United States.
myrmecophile social-parasite predator thanatosis Scarabaeidae Cetoniinae
Cremastocheilus depressus
Anteater scarab beetle
Cremastocheilus depressus is a myrmecophilous scarab beetle in the genus Cremastocheilus, commonly known as anteater scarabs. Adults are specialized predators of ant larvae and pupae, living within colonies of mound-building ants. The species exhibits remarkable morphological and behavioral adaptations for infiltrating and surviving in ant nests, including death-feigning behavior to gain entry and dense, heavily armored exoskeletons for protection.
myrmecophile social-parasite predator scarab-beetle ant-nest-inhabitant thanatosis death-feigning
Cremastocheilus mexicanus
Anteater scarab beetle
Cremastocheilus mexicanus is a myrmecophilous scarab beetle in the tribe Cremastocheilini. The species is part of a genus of approximately 35 North American species known as 'anteater scarabs' for their specialized predatory relationship with ants. Adults and larvae inhabit ant colonies where they feed on ant brood, exhibiting remarkable morphological and behavioral adaptations for this lifestyle. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Myrmecophile Social-parasite Thanatosis Specialized-predator Scarabaeidae Cetoniinae Ant-associate
Cremastocheilus opaculus
Cremastocheilus opaculus is a species of anteater scarab beetle, one of approximately 35 North American species in the genus Cremastocheilus. Like other members of this genus, it is myrmecophilous, living within ant colonies where adults prey upon ant larvae and pupae. The species exhibits specialized morphological adaptations for this lifestyle, including a heavily armored exoskeleton and modified mouthparts. It has been documented from California and Baja California.
myrmecophile predator social-parasite scarab-beetle ant-associate thanatosis death-feigning
Cremastocheilus planatus
Cremastocheilus planatus is a myrmecophilous scarab beetle in the genus Cremastocheilus, commonly known as "anteater scarabs." Adults are obligate predators of ant larvae and pupae within host colonies. The species exhibits specialized morphological adaptations for life inside ant nests, including dense armor and modified mouthparts for piercing soft-bodied prey. Like other members of the genus, it is believed to enter host colonies through death-feigning behavior, allowing worker ants to carry it inside.
myrmecophily myrmecophagous predator scarab Formicidae thanatosis social-parasite
Cyphomyrmex
fungus-growing ants
Cyphomyrmex is a genus of small, drab-colored fungus-growing ants in the tribe Attini, found primarily in the Neotropics. These ants cultivate fungi in the tribe Leucocoprineae as their primary food source, with most species growing fungal nodules rather than full mycelial gardens. Colonies are typically monogynous and small, rarely exceeding 500 workers. The genus is divided into two species complexes: the strigatus complex (South America only) and the rimosus complex (southern North America to South America). Cyphomyrmex represents a basal lineage among attine ants and serves as sister group to Mycetophylax.
fungus-growing-ants attine-ants Myrmicinae Neotropical mutualism fungiculture Leucocoprineae monogyny parasitoid-wasps social-parasitism chemical-ecology alkaloid-venom nest-architecture behavioral-plasticity cytogenetics chromosome-evolution Guiana-Shield Brazil Panama Puerto-Rico Mesoamerica Argentina United-States Texas California Florida yeast-gardens mycelial-gardens rimosus-complex strigatus-complex age-polyethism trophallaxis thanatosis feigning-death Diapriidae Acanthopria Mimopriella Megalomyrmex social-parasite C.-longiscapus C.-transversus C.-laevigatus C.-rimosus C.-minutus C.-lectus C.-cornutus C.-costatus pheromones 3-octanol farnesenes trail-following alarm-signal diketopiperazines antifungal-compounds defensive-behavior colony-defense flight-response recruitment Lanchester's-laws karyotype chromosome-number rDNA microsatellites FISH chamber-depth gallery-length fire-disturbance savanna-forest-transition arboreal-nesting clay-auricles soil-nests wood-nests epiphytic-nests moss-nests coconut-nests desiccation-susceptibility moist-habitats basal-attine phylogenetics sister-group chemical-evolution venom-alkaloids behavioral-manipulation host-parasite-interaction ecosystem-engineering nutrient-cycling decomposition organic-matter insect-feces exoskeleton-substrate garden-transplantation worker-polymorphism queen-number dealate-queens alates brood-care ecdysis-assistance foraging sugar-collection plant-exudates fungal-domestication nodule-cultivation mycelium-cultivation agricultural-behavior nest-entrance funnel-structure exposed-gardens symbiont-diversity geographic-variation research-model evolutionary-biology mutualism-evolution ant-fungus-coevolution chemical-communication social-insects eusociality colony-size small-colonies slow-movement crypsis debris-mimicry predation-avoidance parasitoid-defense wasp-killing colony-abandonment resource-rescue thief-ant-defense venom-resistance toxicity-tolerance behavioral-suppression playing-dead alkaloid-manipulation fungal-secondary-metabolites antibacterial-compounds antiviral-compounds garden-protection microbial-defense nest-microclimate temperature-regulation humidity-requirements depth-effects fire-adaptation disturbance-ecology habitat-specificity substrate-specialization clay-construction soil-manipulation architectural-plasticity vertical-nesting embankment-nesting overhang-nesting pendant-nests swallow-nest-mimicry research-accessibility field-biology tropical-ecology Neotropical-myrmecology biodiversity conservation invasive-species-context native-species biological-control Integrated-Pest-Management agricultural-ecology forest-ecology savanna-ecology transitional-habitats disturbed-areas urban-ecology anthropogenic-impact climate-sensitivity habitat-limitation range-boundaries dispersal colonization establishment population-dynamics demography colony-density nest-spacing intraspecific-competition interspecific-competition territoriality resource-defense combat-behavior aggression-levels recruitment-behavior chemical-signaling alarm-pheromones trail-pheromones recognition-cues cuticular-hydrocarbons venom-composition defensive-secretions mandibular-glands Dufour's-gland metapleural-glands antibiotic-production grooming-behavior fungal-inoculation integumental-fungi yeast-growth larval-grooming garden-maintenance substrate-preparation fecal-fertilizer anal-trophallaxis crop-regurgitation fluid-application drying-behavior nodule-formation transplantation-behavior garden-establishment ceiling-gardens root-association architectural-innovation nest-site-selection microhabitat-choice moisture-requirements thermal-buffering predator-avoidance parasite-avoidance disease-resistance social-immunity collective-behavior division-of-labor task-allocation temporal-polyethism worker-age nurse-workers forager-workers soldier-caste-absence monomorphism worker-size-variation queen-worker-differentiation reproductive-caste gyne-production male-production seasonal-reproduction colony-founding claustral-founding non-claustral-founding fungal-inoculum founding-queen first-worker-generation nutritional-dependency fat-reserves metabolic-adaptation digestive-physiology enzyme-complement fungal-enzyme lignocellulose-degradation nutritional-mutualism obligate-mutualism vertical-transmission horizontal-transmission symbiont-switching cultivar-replacement garden-failure colony-mortality population-turnover generation-time longevity survivorship life-expectancy aging senescence reproductive-investment colony-growth colony-decline budding fission reproduction-mode genetic-structure relatedness mating-system nuptial-flight mate-choice sperm-storage colony-odor nestmate-recognition foreign-rejection agonistic-behavior territorial-marking boundary-defense raiding-behavior robbing-behavior cleptobiosis dulosis slavery inquilinism guest-ants myrmecophiles nest-associates commensalism inquilines parasite-tolerance host-manipulation venom-alkaloid pyrrolidine indolizidine piperidine nonanal farnesene sesquiterpene agriculture-chemical gaster-extract chemical-diversity chemical-simplicity evolutionary-precursor derived-chemistry biosynthetic-pathway semiochemical infochemical communication information-transfer colony-organization social-structure polygyny queen-condition dealation wing-shedding ovarian-development fecundity egg-laying brood-development developmental-rate temperature-dependence humidity-dependence food-availability nutritional-quality fungal-productivity garden-yield worker-production colony-efficiency energy-allocation resource-allocation foraging-efficiency search-behavior prey-detection food-retrieval transport-behavior load-size travel-speed path-integration orientation navigation homing-behavior learning memory experience individual-recognition context-dependent-behavior threat-assessment risk-management predator-inspection alarm-propagation recruitment-activation mobilization colony-response emergency-behavior panic-response controlled-response defensive-strategy offensive-strategy escalation de-escalation conflict-resolution fight-avoidance retreat-behavior surrender-signal dominance-hierarchy reproductive-skew worker-policing queen-policing egg-eating oviposition-suppression reproductive-conflict kin-conflict worker-reproduction male-production-by-workers anarchy social-parasitism-detection parasite-recognition enemy-recognition nest-intrusion nest-defense perimeter-defense chamber-defense brood-defense queen-defense self-sacrifice suicidal-defense autothysis sting-use mandible-use spraying-behavior gaster-flexion chemical-defense mechanical-defense armor cuticle-thickness pigmentation masquerade mimicry Batesian-mimicry Muellerian-mimicry aggressive-mimicry Wasmannian-mimicry myrmecophily myrmecophagy ant-plant-mutualism trophobiosis extrafloral-nectary domatia plant-ant-interaction herbivore-defense seed-dispersal pollination ecosystem-service functional-role trophic-position detritivore decomposer saprotroph necrotroph fungivore omnivore predator scavenger trophic-level energy-flow carbon-cycling nitrogen-cycling phosphorus-cycling soil-formation bioturbation aeration water-infiltration microbial-community bacteria actinomycetes Pseudonocardia disease-suppression garden-hygiene weeding-behavior pruning-behavior fungal-grooming antibiotic-application mutualist-protection agricultural-disease crop-pathology escovopsis garden-parasite competitor-fungus pathogen-defense immune-response individual-immunity grooming allogrooming self-grooming nest-cleaning refuse-management fecal-management waste-disposal midden-formation territory-size home-range foraging-range recruitment-range exploration exploitation information-use public-information private-information cue-use signal-use communication-network interaction-network social-network colony-network population-network community-ecology species-interaction apparent-competition exploitative-competition interference-competition resource-partitioning niche-differentiation habitat-filtering environmental-gradient altitudinal-distribution latitudinal-distribution continental-distribution island-distribution endemism biogeography phylogeography historical-biogeography vicariance range-expansion range-contraction refugia glacial-cycles climate-change-impact habitat-fragmentation deforestation land-use-change agricultural-intensification urbanization pollution pesticide-exposure heavy-metal-accumulation conservation-status population-viability extinction-risk protected-area reserve-design habitat-corridor connectivity metapopulation source-sink-dynamics rescue-effect mass-effect ecological-theory behavioral-ecology evolutionary-ecology functional-ecology trait-based-ecology comparative-analysis phylogenetic-comparative-methods character-evolution ancestral-state-reconstruction convergent-evolution parallel-evolution adaptive-radiation species-diversification speciation hybridization introgression gene-flow genetic-differentiation population-structure molecular-ecology genomics transcriptomics proteomics metabolomics volatile-organic-compound cuticular-hydrocarbon glandular-secretion sting-apparatus mandible-morphology head-morphology mesosomal-morphology petiolar-morphology gastral-morphology leg-morphology antennal-morphology sensilla chemoreception mechanoreception thermoreception photoreception vision compound-eye ocelli brain-morphology neuroanatomy learning-capacity memory-capacity cognitive-ability problem-solving tool-use sequence-learning route-learning spatial-memory temporal-memory social-learning cultural-transmission tradition colony-personality behavioral-syndrome boldness exploration-tendency activity-level aggression-level foraging-tendency defensive-tendency stress-response physiological-stress thermal-stress desiccation-stress starvation-stress immune-challenge wound-healing metabolic-rate respiration energy-expenditure water-balance osmoregulation excretion Malpighian-tubules rectum hindgut midgut foregut crop proventriculus digestive-enzyme nutrient-absorption lipid-metabolism carbohydrate-metabolism protein-metabolism amino-acid-metabolism nitrogen-excretion uric-acid urea ammonia osmolyte cryoprotectant heat-shock-protein stress-protein antioxidant-defense oxidative-stress reactive-oxygen-species aging-biology senescence-theory disposable-soma antagonistic-pleiotropy mutation-accumulation life-history-theory r-K-selection bet-hedging iteroparity semelparity reproductive-effort parental-investment maternal-effect paternal-effect epigenetics DNA-methylation histone-modification non-coding-RNA gene-regulation transcription-factor signaling-pathway hormone juvenile-hormone ecdysone insulin-signaling TOR-signaling nutrient-sensing reproductive-signaling caste-determination sex-determination environmental-sex-determination genetic-sex-determination haplodiploidy arrhenotoky thelytoky parthenogenesis arrhenotokous-parthenogenesis automixis apomixis central-fusion terminal-fusion genomic-imprinting parental-conflict kin-selection inclusive-fitness Hamilton's-rule relatedness-asymmetry sex-ratio-theory local-mate-competition local-resource-competition local-resource-enhancement split-sex-ratio worker-sex-ratio queen-sex-ratio colony-sex-ratio population-sex-ratio operational-sex-ratio effective-population-size genetic-drift inbreeding inbreeding-depression outbreeding outbreeding-depression heterosis hybrid-vigor genetic-load mutation-rate effective-number-of-codons codon-usage-bias GC-content genome-size karyotype-evolution chromosomal-rearrangement fusion inversion translocation polyploidy aneuploidy chromosomal-polymorphism rDNA-cluster heterochromatin euchromatin centromere telomere nucleolus-organizer-region satellite-DNA minisatellite microsatellite simple-sequence-repeat transposable-element retrotransposon DNA-transposon horizontal-gene-transfer endosymbiont Wolbachia Cardinium Rickettsia Spiroplasma bacterial-symbiont fungal-symbiont viral-symbiont parasite pathogen disease epidemiology transmission-dynamics virulence resistance tolerance recovery immunity vaccination prophylaxis medicinal-behavior self-medication thermoregulation behavioral-thermoregulation social-thermoregulation microclimate-selection nest-temperature brood-temperature fungal-garden-temperature metabolic-heat heat-dissipation evaporative-cooling behavioral-cooling fanning ventilation chamber-design gallery-design entrance-design air-flow humidity-regulation water-collection water-storage desiccation-resistance cuticular-waterproofing spiracle-control respiratory-water-loss excretory-water-loss water-recycling metabolic-water dietary-water environmental-water rainfall-dependence seasonal-activity dry-season wet-season monsoon drought flood fire disturbance succession primary-succession secondary-succession climax-community pioneer-species habitat-specialist habitat-generalist edge-species interior-species gap-species canopy-species understory-species ground-species subterranean-species arboreal-species liana-species epiphyte-species lithophyte-species rheophyte-species aquatic-margin-species terrestrial-species fossorial-species cursorial-species scansorial-species volant-species winged-reproductive dealate ergatoid brachypterous apterous polymorphism caste-polymorphism queen-polymorphism male-polymorphism size-polymorphism allometry isometry shape-variation morphological-integration modularity evolvability constraints developmental-stability fluctuating-asymmetry directional-asymmetry antisymmetry phenotypic-plasticity reaction-norm genotype-environment-interaction grandparental-effect indirect-genetic-effect social-environment-effect colony-effect density-dependence frequency-dependence negative-frequency-dependence positive-frequency-dependence apostatic-selection anti-apostatic-selection search-image predator-learning prey-learning friend-recognition cuticular-hydrocarbon-profile gestalt-odor colony-specific-odor individual-specific-odor task-specific-odor age-specific-odor reproductive-odor queen-odor queen-pheromone primer-pheromone releaser-pheromone signal-pheromone modulatory-pheromone alarm-pheromone trail-pheromone recruitment-pheromone aggregation-pheromone sex-pheromone marking-pheromone territorial-pheromone defensive-pheromone poison-gland Dufour-gland mandibular-gland postpharyngeal-gland metapleural-gland sternal-gland tarsal-gland anal-gland rectal-gland pygidial-gland mandibular-brush tibial-spur stridulatory-organ subgenual-organ Johnston's-organ tympanal-organ hair-sensillum campaniform-sensillum basiconic-sensillum coeloconic-sensillum placoid-sensillum sensilla-trichodea sensilla-basiconica sensilla-coeloconica sensilla-ampullacea sensilla-campaniformia sensilla-placodea olfactory-receptor-neuron gustatory-receptor-neuron mechanoreceptor-neuron thermoreceptor-neuron hygroreceptor-neuron photoreceptor-neuron visual-processing olfactory-processing gustatory-processing mechanosensory-processing central-complex mushroom-body antennal-lobe optic-lobe suboesophageal-ganglion ventral-nerve-cord sympathetic-nervous-system neurosecretion neurohemal-organ corpus-cardiacum corpus-allatum prothoracic-gland ventral-gland pericardial-gland neuroendocrine-regulation hormonal-regulation pheromonal-regulation neural-regulation behavioral-regulation social-regulation environmental-regulation developmental-regulation reproductive-regulation metabolic-regulation homeostatic-regulation allostatic-regulation stress-regulation immune-regulation circadian-rhythm circannual-rhythm photoperiodism thermoperiodism biological-clock zeitgeber entrainment free-running-period phase-response-curve masking-effect arousal-threshold sleep torpor diapause quiescence dormancy aestivation hibernation cold-hardiness heat-hardiness desiccation-hardiness anoxia-hardiness starvation-hardiness radiation-hardiness pressure-hardiness gravity-perception magnetic-field-perception electric-field-perception sound-perception vibration-perception substrate-borne-signal air-borne-signal seismic-signal chemical-signal visual-signal tactile-signal auditory-signal multimodal-signal composite-signal redundant-signal amplifying-signal attenuating-signal honest-signal deceptive-signal costly-signal cheap-signal conventional-signal index-signal handicap-signal amplifier social-selection sexual-selection sperm-competition cryptic-female-choice male-male-competition female-female-competition parent-offspring-conflict sibling-conflict worker-queen-conflict worker-worker-conflict sexual-conflict antagonistic-coevolution arms-race evolutionary-dynamics community-dynamics ecosystem-dynamics biogeochemical-cycle carbon-cycle nitrogen-cycle phosphorus-cycle sulfur-cycle water-cycle trophic-transfer production-efficiency consumption-efficiency assimilation-efficiency ecological-efficiency Lindeman-efficiency 10%-rule food-chain food-web trophic-cascade top-down-control bottom-up-control wasps-control donor-control recipient-control interaction-strength interaction-web ecological-network network-topology network-metrics degree-distribution connectance nestedness compartmentalization robustness fragility resilience recovery-time return-time elasticity perturbation pulse-disturbance press-disturbance chronic-disturbance acute-disturbance catastrophic-disturbance natural-disturbance anthropogenic-disturbance habitat-destruction habitat-degradation habitat-modification habitat-loss habitat-isolation edge-effect matrix-effect permeability corridor-effect stepping-stone source-population sink-population metapopulation-dynamics extinction-debt colonization-credit relaxation-effect time-lag historical-legacy priority-effect founder-effect bottleneck-effect selection natural-selection artificial-selection directional-selection stabilizing-selection disruptive-selection balancing-selection frequency-dependent-selection density-dependent-selection r-selection K-selection c-selection s-selection a-selection bet-hedging-selection fluctuating-selection correlational-selection multivariate-selection indirect-selection correlated-response genetic-correlation phenotypic-correlation environmental-correlation correlation-matrix variance-covariance-matrix G-matrix P-matrix E-matrix M-matrix quantitative-genetics heritability narrow-sense-heritability broad-sense-heritability genetic-variance additive-genetic-variance dominance-variance epistatic-variance environmental-variance phenotypic-variance genotype-environment-interaction-variance maternal-variance paternal-variance common-environment-variance special-environment-variance measurement-error-variance response-to-selection realized-heritability predicted-response breeder's-equation selection-gradient selection-differential Lande-equation multivariate-breeder's-equation genetic-constraint evolutionary-constraint developmental-constraint functional-constraint phylogenetic-constraint historical-constraint trade-off allocation-trade-off acquisition-trade-off conversion-trade-off maintenance-trade-off reproduction-survival-trade-off growth-reproduction-trade-off immune-reproduction-trade-off stress-reproduction-trade-off foraging-predation-trade-off competition-colonization-trade-off tolerance-resistance-trade-off plasticity-canalization-trade-off generalist-specialist-trade-off speed-accuracy-trade-off exploration-exploitation-trade-off individual-colony-trade-off within-colony-trade-off between-colony-trade-off life-history-trade-off demographic-trade-off ecological-trade-off evolutionary-trade-off optimization maximization minimization satisficing marginal-value-theorem optimal-foraging-theory optimal-diet-theory central-place-foraging patch-use-theory giving-up-density giving-up-time predation-risk energetic-cost opportunity-cost handling-time search-time travel-time encounter-rate prey-density prey-profitability prey-choice diet-breadth niche-width niche-overlap niche-partitioning resource-selection habitat-selection settlement-choice nest-site-choice host-choice oviposition-choice foraging-choice path-choice route-choice central-place territory core-area edge-area boundary perimeter area volume shape configuration spatial-pattern temporal-pattern diel-pattern seasonal-pattern annual-pattern multiannual-pattern cyclical-pattern irregular-pattern random-pattern clumped-pattern uniform-pattern regular-pattern aggregated-pattern overdispersed-pattern underdispersed-pattern Poisson-distribution negative-binomial-distribution Taylor's-power-law spatial-autocorrelation temporal-autocorrelation cross-correlation spectral-analysis wavelet-analysis time-series-analysis population-time-series community-time-series ecosystem-time-series long-term-study long-term-monitoring long-term-experiment chronosequence space-for-time-substitution paleoecology paleontology fossil-record trace-fossil coprolite nest-fossil amber-inclusion subfossil quaternary holocene pleistocene neogene paleogene cretaceous mesozoic cenozoic geological-time deep-time evolutionary-time ecological-time generational-time physiological-time perception-time reaction-time decision-time memory-time learning-time developmental-time life-span colony-lifespan queen-lifespan worker-lifespan male-lifespan larval-development-time pupal-development-time egg-development-time incubation-time doubling-time half-life relaxation-time resilience-time resistance-time lag-time lead-time forecast-time prediction-time planning-time management-time conservation-time restoration-time mitigation-time adaptation-time speciation-time diversification-time extinction-time persistence-time transience-time ephemerality permanence stability instability equilibrium non-equilibrium steady-state dynamic-state transient-state asymptotic-state attractor repeller limit-cycle chaos stochasticity determinism predictability unpredictability complexity emergence self-organization pattern-formation spatial-self-organization temporal-self-organization spatiotemporal-self-organization swarm-intelligence collective-decision-making consensus-decision quorum-response wisdom-of-crowds information-cascade cultural-evolution gene-culture-coevolution niche-construction extended-phenotype extended-organism superorganism colony-as-individual colony-as-unit-of-selection group-selection multilevel-selection reciprocal-altruism by-product-mutualism amensalism competition predation herbivory parasitism parasitoidism chemical-mimicry tactile-mimicry visual-mimicry acoustic-mimicry defensive-mimicry Vavilovian-mimicry Bakerian-mimicry Gilbertian-mimicry Poultonian-mimicry Browerian-mimicry auto-mimicry intra-specific-mimicry inter-specific-mimicry molecular-mimicry cellular-mimicry tissue-mimicry organ-mimicry behavioral-mimicry reproductive-mimicry social-mimicry nest-mimicry food-mimicry predator-mimicry prey-mimicry host-mimicry guest-mimicry cleptoparasite cuckoo-parasite inquiline guest myrmecophile termitophile aphidophile coccidophile scale-insect-associate mealybug-associate whitefly-associate planthopper-associate treehopper-associate leafhopper-associate cicada-associate butterfly-associate moth-associate beetle-associate fly-associate wasp-associate bee-associate ant-associate spider-associate mite-associate tick-associate nematode-associate flatworm-associate roundworm-associate annelid-associate mollusk-associate crustacean-associate millipede-associate centipede-associate insect-associate vertebrate-associate bird-associate mammal-associate reptile-associate amphibian-associate fish-associate plant-associate fungus-associate bacteria-associate virus-associate archaea-associate protist-associate algae-associate lichen-associate bryophyte-associate pteridophyte-associate gymnosperm-associate angiosperm-associate monocot-associate dicot-associate herb-associate shrub-associate tree-associate vine-associate epiphyte-associate lithophyte-associate rheophyte-associate hydrophyte-associate xerophyte-associate mesophyte-associate hygrophyte-associate sciophyte-associate heliophyte-associate pioneer-plant-associate climax-plant-associate disturbance-plant-associate successional-plant-associate ant-plant-protection-mutualism ant-plant-food-body-mutualism ant-plant-domatia-mutualism ant-plant-extrafloral-nectary-mutualism ant-plant-seed-dispersal-mutualism ant-plant-pollination-mutualism ant-plant-agriculture-mutualism ant-fungus-mutualism ant-bacteria-mutualism ant-virus-mutualism ant-nematode-mutualism ant-mite-mutualism ant-tick-mutualism ant-spider-mutualism ant-wasp-mutualism ant-fly-mutualism ant-beetle-mutualism ant-butterfly-mutualism ant-moth-mutualism ant-bird-mutualism ant-mammal-mutualism ant-reptile-mutualism ant-amphibian-mutualism ant-fish-mutualism ant-human-mutualism ant-domestic-animal-mutualism ant-pest-mutualism ant-crop-mutualism ant-forest-mutualism 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ant-non-symbiotic-mutualism ant-trophic-mutualism ant-defensive-mutualism ant-dispersive-mutualism ant-pollination-mutualism ant-agriculture-mutualism ant-construction-mutualism ant-nutrient-mutualism ant-protection-mutualism ant-cleaning-mutualism ant-transport-mutualism ant-storage-mutualism ant-processing-mutualism ant-consumption-mutualism ant-production-mutualism ant-exchange-mutualism ant-reciprocity-mutualism ant-by-product-mutualism ant-investment-mutualism ant-harvest-mutualism ant-cultivation-mutualism ant-domestication-mutualism ant-selection-mutualism ant-breeding-mutualism ant-engineering-mutualism ant-modification-mutualism ant-creation-mutualism ant-destruction-mutualism ant-transformation-mutualism ant-conversion-mutualism ant-utilization-mutualism ant-exploitation-mutualism ant-cooperation-mutualism ant-competition-mutualism ant-conflict-mutualism ant-resolution-mutualism ant-negotiation-mutualism ant-communication-mutualism ant-signal-mutualism ant-cue-mutualism ant-information-mutualism ant-knowledge-mutualism ant-learning-mutualism ant-memory-mutualism ant-cognition-mutualism ant-intelligence-mutualism ant-decision-mutualism ant-choice-mutualism ant-preference-mutualism ant-motivation-mutualism ant-emotion-mutualism ant-stress-mutualism ant-welfare-mutualism ant-health-mutualism ant-disease-mutualism ant-immunity-mutualism ant-resistance-mutualism ant-tolerance-mutualism ant-recovery-mutualism ant-healing-mutualism ant-therapy-mutualism ant-medicine-mutualism ant-prevention-mutualism ant-security-mutualism ant-safety-mutualism ant-risk-mutualism ant-hazard-mutualism ant-threat-mutualism ant-danger-mutualism ant-damage-mutualism ant-injury-mutualism ant-death-mutualism ant-mortality-mutualism ant-survival-mutualism ant-longevity-mutualism ant-reproduction-mutualism ant-fertility-mutualism ant-fecundity-mutualism ant-sterility-mutualism ant-virginity-mutualism ant-mating-mutualism ant-copulation-mutualism ant-insemination-mutualism ant-fertilization-mutualism ant-egg-mutualism ant-laying-mutualism ant-incubation-mutualism ant-hatching-mutualism ant-emergence-mutualism ant-eclosion-mutualism ant-molting-mutualism ant-ecdysis-mutualism ant-metamorphosis-mutualism ant-development-mutualism ant-growth-mutualism ant-differentiation-mutualism ant-maturation-mutualism ant-aging-mutualism ant-senescence-mutualism ant-decomposition-mutualism ant-recycling-mutualism ant-energy-mutualism ant-carbon-mutualism ant-nitrogen-mutualism ant-phosphorus-mutualism ant-sulfur-mutualism ant-water-mutualism ant-oxygen-mutualism ant-hydrogen-mutualism ant-mineral-mutualism ant-vitamin-mutualism ant-hormone-mutualism ant-enzyme-mutualism ant-protein-mutualism ant-lipid-mutualism ant-carbohydrate-mutualism ant-nucleic-acid-mutualism ant-DNA-mutualism ant-RNA-mutualism ant-gene-mutualism ant-genome-mutualism ant-chromosome-mutualism ant-cell-mutualism ant-tissue-mutualism ant-organ-mutualism ant-system-mutualism ant-organism-mutualism ant-individual-mutualism ant-colony-mutualism ant-population-mutualism ant-species-mutualism ant-genus-mutualism ant-family-mutualism ant-order-mutualism ant-class-mutualism ant-phylum-mutualism ant-kingdom-mutualism ant-domain-mutualism ant-life-mutualism ant-earth-mutualism ant-universe-mutualism
Dolichovespula arctica
Parasitic Aerial Yellowjacket
Dolichovespula arctica is a social parasitic wasp that lacks a worker caste, consisting only of reproductive females and males. It infiltrates established colonies of its primary host, Dolichovespula arenaria (Aerial Yellowjacket), and exploits the host's worker force to raise its own offspring. The species is rarely observed despite being fairly common across northern North America.
social-parasite yellowjacket vespid hymenoptera north-america montane coniferous-forest
Formica gnava
Formica gnava is a species of ant in the genus Formica, family Formicidae. It serves as a host species for the obligatory slave-making ant Polyergus breviceps, with its workers being enslaved to rear Polyergus offspring in mixed-species nests. The species exhibits strong nestmate recognition, with workers preferentially adopting conspecific pupae and rejecting or consuming pupae of other host species. Free-living workers show lower adoption rates of parasite pupae compared to enslaved workers.
ant Formicidae host-species slave-making-ant-host social-parasite nestmate-recognition
Formica pergandei
Pergande's Mound Ant
Formica pergandei is a slavemaking ant species that constructs stable earthen nest mounds. Colonies exhibit frequent nest relocations, typically occurring mid-raiding season, by invading existing host nests in areas of higher host density. This behavior reduces mean raiding distance and improves raiding success. The species was described by Emery in 1893 and is known from the northeastern United States.
slavemaking-ant dulotic nest-relocation earthen-mound Formica social-parasite raiding-behavior myrmecology North-America eusocial-insect host-parasite-dynamics spatial-ecology colony-movement raiding-seasonality host-density-dependent-behavior
Formica rubicunda
Ruddy Slave-making Ant
Formica rubicunda is a North American ant species in the genus Formica, described by Emery in 1893. It belongs to a genus containing numerous social parasite species, including both obligate and facultative slave-makers. The species is recorded from the northeastern United States, including Vermont. Like many Formica species, it may exhibit social parasitic behaviors, though specific documentation for this species is limited.
ant Formicidae North-America social-parasite slave-making-ant
Formica subintegra
Formica subintegra is an obligate slave-making ant that practices dulosis, a form of social parasitism where the species depends entirely on captured workers of closely related host species for domestic tasks. Colonies consist of 70-90% enslaved workers, primarily from the Formica fusca group. The species exhibits relatively frequent nest relocations, moving toward areas of higher host density to improve raiding success. Unlike more specialized obligate parasites, F. subintegra retains the ability to recover degenerated behaviors when isolated from hosts, including foraging, nest excavation, and trophallaxis.
slave-making-ant dulotic social-parasite obligate-parasite Formica-sanguinea-group nest-relocation behavioral-recovery
Formicoxenus hirticornis
Dogwood Guest Ant
Formicoxenus hirticornis is a small myrmicine ant species in the genus Formicoxenus, commonly known as the Dogwood Guest Ant. Species in this genus are specialized social parasites that inhabit nests of larger host ant species, particularly those in the genus Myrmica. The specific epithet 'hirticornis' refers to hairy antennae. This species is rarely encountered and poorly documented in scientific literature.
ant myrmicine social-parasite inquiline Holarctic rare cryptic
Lasioglossum imitatum
Bristle Sweat Bee
Lasioglossum imitatum is a species of sweat bee in the family Halictidae, commonly known as the bristle sweat bee. It is a member of the large genus Lasioglossum (subgenus Dialictus), which contains over 1,700 species. The species is known to be parasitized by the social parasite Paralictus asteris, which invades nests and becomes the dominant reproductive in host colonies.
bee sweat-bee halictid social-parasite North-America
Leptothorax canadensis
Northern Thin Ant
Leptothorax canadensis is a small myrmicine ant native to eastern North America, where it is one of the most common ants in boreal coniferous forests. The species exhibits facultative polygyny, with colonies containing multiple fertile queens. It is also known as a slave-making ant, conducting organized raids on host colonies—particularly Leptothorax muscorum—to capture pupae that emerge as workers serving the slave-making colony. Genetic studies indicate a multicolonial population structure with moderate gene flow and no evidence of inbreeding.
ant slave-making social-parasite polygyny myrmicine boreal-forest eastern-North-America Hymenoptera Formicidae Leptothorax
Myrmica rubra
European fire ant, common red ant
Myrmica rubra is a widespread Palaearctic ant species native to Europe, now invasive in parts of North America and Asia. Workers are reddish-brown with darker heads, 3.5–5.5 mm in length. The species exhibits complex social structure with both macrogynes and microgynes, and colonies are polygyne and polydomous. It serves as a host for several myrmecophilous butterflies and has been documented transmitting viruses through scavenging behavior.
invasive-species myrmecophily social-parasite polygyne polydomous microgyne macrogyne virus-reservoir thermal-limitation trail-learning larval-begging undertaker-behavior Palaearctic-distribution North-America-invasion butterfly-host Deformed-Wing-Virus nematode-biological-control
Pheidole elecebra
Pheidole elecebra is an ant species endemic to the United States. It is a workerless inquiline, meaning it lives within the nests of another ant species without producing a worker caste of its own. The species is entirely dependent on its host, Pheidole ceres, for colony maintenance and survival.
inquiline workerless social-parasite myrmicinae endemic united-states pheidole-ceres formicidae
Polistes hirsuticornis
Hairy-horned Paper Wasp
Polistes hirsuticornis is a species of paper wasp described in 2012 from North American specimens previously misidentified as members of the P. fuscatus-group. It was formerly treated as Polistes fuscatus, P. metricus, or P. bellicosus. The species is hypothesized to be an obligate social parasite of other paper wasps, though this behavior remains undocumented by direct observation. It appears in regional identification literature as 'Polistes sp. A' and in genetic databases as 'Polistes sp. Buck1'.
paper-wasp social-parasite cryptic-species North-America
Polyergus breviceps
Broad-headed Amazon Ant
Polyergus breviceps is an obligate slave-making ant endemic to the United States. Workers are incapable of foraging, feeding brood, or performing nest maintenance, relying entirely on enslaved Formica workers for all colony tasks. The species conducts organized raids on Formica colonies to capture pupae, which mature into workers in the mixed nest. Newly mated queens can independently usurp Formica colonies through a combination of physical combat and chemical deception.
slave-making-ant social-parasite Formica Dufour's-gland chemical-ecology raiding-behavior desert-ant
Polyergus longicornis
Long-horned Amazon Ant
Polyergus longicornis is a dulotic (slave-making) ant species in the genus Polyergus, commonly known as Amazon ants. Elevated to full species status by Trager (2013), it was originally described by M. R. Smith in 1947. The species belongs to the Nearctic lucidus group, which includes P. lucidus, P. montivagus, P. oligergus, P. ruber, and P. sanwaldi. Like all Polyergus species, it is an obligate social parasite dependent on host colonies of Formica ants for survival and reproduction.
dulotic slave-making-ant social-parasite Formicidae Nearctic Hymenoptera obligate-parasite Amazon-ant Polyergus-lucidus-group
Polyergus lucidus
Shining Slave-Making Ant, Shining Amazon Ant, Lucidus-group Amazon Ant
Polyergus lucidus is an obligatory social parasite and slave-making ant endemic to the eastern United States. Workers are incapable of feeding themselves or rearing their own brood, relying entirely on captured host ants to perform these tasks. The species conducts organized raids on nests of Formica ants, primarily Formica incerta, capturing pupae that mature into functional workers in the parasite colony. P. lucidus exhibits strong host specificity, with colonies typically containing only one slave species despite multiple potential hosts being available in the same habitat.
slave-making-ant social-parasite dulotic-ant Formicinae eastern-North-America host-specificity obligatory-parasitism
Polyergus mexicanus
Western Amazon Ant
Polyergus mexicanus is an obligate social parasite known as the Western Amazon Ant, widely distributed across western North America. This species is incapable of performing basic colony tasks including foraging, nest excavation, and brood care, and depends entirely on enslaved workers of Formica host species. The species performs dramatic, coordinated raids on Formica colonies to capture larvae and pupae, which are then integrated into the parasite colony. Recent genetic studies have revealed substantial population structure associated with different host species, suggesting incipient speciation into host-specific lineages.
slave-making-ant social-parasite dulotic obligate-parasite Amazon-ant kidnapper-ant Formica-parasite Hymenoptera Formicidae North-America western-United-States California Colorado Mexico genetic-structure host-specificity brain-reduction raiding-behavior social-insect myrmecology
Polyergus montivagus
Foothills Amazon Ant
Polyergus montivagus is a dulotic (slave-making) ant in the lucidus group of the genus Polyergus, originally described from the foothills near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The species is an obligate social parasite that raids nests of Formica ants to capture pupae, which mature into enslaved workers that maintain the colony. Workers possess distinctive long, blackish legs and a non-pubescent, shiny gaster. Colony size averages 300-500 workers.
slave-making-ant dulotic social-parasite Amazon-ant Formica-host obligate-parasite Nearctic Colorado-endemic
Polyergus sanwaldi
Sanwald's Amazon Ant
Polyergus sanwaldi is a dulotic ant species described by Trager in 2013 as part of a global revision of the genus Polyergus. It belongs to the lucidus species group, one of three major groups within the genus. Like all Polyergus species, it is an obligatory social parasite that raids colonies of Formica ants to capture and enslave their brood. The species is named in honor of an individual (Sanwald), following the naming convention for several new species in this revision.
dulotic slave-making social-parasite Formicinae Nearctic
Polyergus topoffi
Topoff's Amazon Ant
Polyergus topoffi is a dulotic (slave-making) ant species described in 2013 as part of a global revision of the genus Polyergus. It belongs to the rufescens group, informally termed the breviceps complex, which comprises American species within this otherwise Palaearctic-centered group. Like all Polyergus species, it is an obligatory social parasite dependent on host colonies of Formica ants for survival, as its workers cannot feed themselves or excavate nests. The species is one of five newly described in the 2013 revision based on morphometric, ecological, host-association, and biogeographic characteristics.
slave-making-ant dulosis social-parasite Formicidae Formicinae Nearctic rufescens-group breviceps-complex Amazon-ant
Polyergus vinosus
Wine-red Amazon Ant
Polyergus vinosus is a species of slave-making ant in the genus Polyergus, described in 2013 as part of a global revision of the genus. It belongs to the rufescens group, informally known as the breviceps complex, and is one of five new species described in that revision. Like all Polyergus species, it is an obligatory social parasite that relies on host colonies of Formica ants for survival, as it cannot feed itself or excavate nests.
slave-making-ant social-parasite dulotic-ant Formicidae Nearctic new-species-2013 breviceps-complex rufescens-group obligatory-parasite
Protomognathus
Protomognathus is a genus of myrmicine ants containing obligatory slave-making species. The genus includes Protomognathus americanus, which exhibits a "prudent" slave-making strategy characterized by minimal fitness impact on host colonies compared to more destructive slave-makers. Scout workers actively seek host colonies, and colony size influences both scouting behavior and host defensive responses.
slave-making-ant social-parasite myrmicine Temnothorax prudent-parasite scout-behavior host-parasite-interaction
Pseudomyrmex leptosus
Parasitic Twig Ant
Pseudomyrmex leptosus is a workerless social parasite in the genus Pseudomyrmex, first described by Ward in 1985. The species has completely lost its worker caste, a rare condition among ants. It is known from Florida in the United States. As an inquiline social parasite, it lives within the colonies of host ant species.
workerless social-parasite inquiline endemic United-States
Temnothorax americanus
Slave-raiding Acorn Ant
Temnothorax americanus is an obligatory slave-making ant species endemic to the northeastern United States and adjacent Canadian regions. Adults measure 2–3 mm in length. The species does not forage for food; instead, scout workers locate nearby host colonies, raid them for larvae and pupae, and integrate these into their own colony as slave workers. A typical colony consists of a queen, two to five workers, and thirty or more slaves. The species is a member of the tribe Crematogastrini within the subfamily Myrmicinae.
slave-making-ant social-parasite myrmicinae acorn-ant formicidae hymenoptera insecta arthropoda animalia northeastern-north-america obligatory-dulosis
Vespula infernalis
cuckoo yellowjacket, American cuckoo yellowjacket
Vespula infernalis is an obligate social parasite (inquiline) that invades and usurps colonies of other yellowjacket species, primarily Vespula acadica in North America. Unlike most parasitic wasps, it exhibits intensely aggressive behavior during colony takeover, using specialized morphological adaptations including a large, heavily curved stinger to subdue host workers. The species lacks a worker caste and cannot build nests or rear its own young, instead forcing host workers to feed and care for its brood through dominance behaviors including mauling and forced trophallaxis.
social-parasite inquiline cuckoo-wasp yellowjacket aggressive-parasitism Vespula Hymenoptera Nearctic boreal-forest Vespula-acadica forced-trophallaxis mauling-behavior curved-stinger no-worker-caste obligate-parasitism Dufour's-gland oogenesis-suppression fourth-mandibular-tooth Kimsey-&-Carpenter-2012 Vespula-austriaca-sister-species short-flight-season June-to-September Canada United-States Alaska New-Jersey Michigan Wisconsin North-Dakota New-Mexico Arizona California stable-population subterranean-nests host-queen-usurpation host-worker-manipulation reproductive-monopoly venom-paralyzes-hosts minimal-foraging no-nest-construction no-thermoregulation-behavior egg-laying-on-comb-exterior autumn-queen-production longer-hibernation-than-hosts preusurpation-phase queen-reared-worker-stage-invasion post-emergence-colony-stage-invasion patrol-behavior cell-inspection dominance-assertion evolutionary-strategy-kill-older-workers-first worker-oviposition-suppression gastral-dragging 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grasshopper-cricket-katydid-moth-butterfly-beetle-fly-earthworm-lanternfly-cockroach-smaller-wasp-small-spider-cicada-prey tiny-waist-liquid-feeding-constraint mandible-prey-dismemberment larval-secretion-dependency-other-queens V.-infernalis-liquid-food-dependency host-worker-secretion-solicitation minimal-larval-solicitation forceful-feeding-foreleg-grabbing comb-pushing-aggressive-feeding trophallaxis-intensity-decline-later-stages worker-escape-forced-encounters short-trophallaxis-1-5-seconds long-trophallaxis-43-seconds venom-apparatus-shaft-aculeus-Dufour's-gland-venom-glands venom-reservoir-size-largest-females Dufour's-gland-size-largest-females oily-venom-extraction-experiment V.-pensylvanica-worker-venom-test V.-pensylvanica-queen-venom-test venom-paralysis-flying-impairment venom-third-supply-worker-kill venom-queen-kill-more-required venom-lethality-comparable-non-parasites Dufour's-gland-material-no-poison reproductive-organ-complex preusurpation-gland-clear-oily 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Vespula squamosa
southern yellowjacket
Vespula squamosa, the southern yellowjacket, is a social wasp native to eastern North America, ranging from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic coast and south through Mexico to Guatemala. The species exhibits remarkable social plasticity: most colonies are annual and headed by a single queen, but in warmer climates colonies may become perennial, persisting multiple years and reaching extreme sizes with multiple reproductive queens (polygyny). Approximately 85% of colonies begin through facultative social parasitism, with V. squamosa queens usurping nests of V. maculifrons (eastern yellowjacket) or V. vidua (widow yellowjacket). Workers are approximately 13 mm long with black and yellow striping; queens are larger and more orange in coloration. The species is expanding its range northward and is now common in the Mid-Atlantic region.
social-wasp yellowjacket social-parasite polygyny perennial-colony range-expansion stinging-insect pest-species Vespidae Hymenoptera facultative-parasitism alarm-pheromone queen-polymorphism climate-change-response