Spider-associate
Guides
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-antsattine-antsMyrmicinaeNeotropicalmutualismfungicultureLeucocoprineaemonogynyparasitoid-waspssocial-parasitismchemical-ecologyalkaloid-venomnest-architecturebehavioral-plasticitycytogeneticschromosome-evolutionGuiana-ShieldBrazilPanamaPuerto-RicoMesoamericaArgentinaUnited-StatesTexasCaliforniaFloridayeast-gardensmycelial-gardensrimosus-complexstrigatus-complexage-polyethismtrophallaxisthanatosisfeigning-deathDiapriidaeAcanthopriaMimopriellaMegalomyrmexsocial-parasiteC.-longiscapusC.-transversusC.-laevigatusC.-rimosusC.-minutusC.-lectusC.-cornutusC.-costatuspheromones3-octanolfarnesenestrail-followingalarm-signaldiketopiperazinesantifungal-compoundsdefensive-behaviorcolony-defenseflight-responserecruitmentLanchester's-lawskaryotypechromosome-numberrDNAmicrosatellitesFISHchamber-depthgallery-lengthfire-disturbancesavanna-forest-transitionarboreal-nestingclay-auriclessoil-nestswood-nestsepiphytic-nestsmoss-nestscoconut-nestsdesiccation-susceptibilitymoist-habitatsbasal-attinephylogeneticssister-groupchemical-evolutionvenom-alkaloidsbehavioral-manipulationhost-parasite-interactionecosystem-engineeringnutrient-cyclingdecompositionorganic-matterinsect-fecesexoskeleton-substrategarden-transplantationworker-polymorphismqueen-numberdealate-queensalatesbrood-careecdysis-assistanceforagingsugar-collectionplant-exudatesfungal-domesticationnodule-cultivationmycelium-cultivationagricultural-behaviornest-entrancefunnel-structureexposed-gardenssymbiont-diversitygeographic-variationresearch-modelevolutionary-biologymutualism-evolutionant-fungus-coevolutionchemical-communicationsocial-insectseusocialitycolony-sizesmall-coloniesslow-movementcrypsisdebris-mimicrypredation-avoidanceparasitoid-defensewasp-killingcolony-abandonmentresource-rescuethief-ant-defensevenom-resistancetoxicity-tolerancebehavioral-suppressionplaying-deadalkaloid-manipulationfungal-secondary-metabolitesantibacterial-compoundsantiviral-compoundsgarden-protectionmicrobial-defensenest-microclimatetemperature-regulationhumidity-requirementsdepth-effectsfire-adaptationdisturbance-ecologyhabitat-specificitysubstrate-specializationclay-constructionsoil-manipulationarchitectural-plasticityvertical-nestingembankment-nestingoverhang-nestingpendant-nestsswallow-nest-mimicryresearch-accessibilityfield-biologytropical-ecologyNeotropical-myrmecologybiodiversityconservationinvasive-species-contextnative-speciesbiological-controlIntegrated-Pest-Managementagricultural-ecologyforest-ecologysavanna-ecologytransitional-habitatsdisturbed-areasurban-ecologyanthropogenic-impactclimate-sensitivityhabitat-limitationrange-boundariesdispersalcolonizationestablishmentpopulation-dynamicsdemographycolony-densitynest-spacingintraspecific-competitioninterspecific-competitionterritorialityresource-defensecombat-behavioraggression-levelsrecruitment-behaviorchemical-signalingalarm-pheromonestrail-pheromonesrecognition-cuescuticular-hydrocarbonsvenom-compositiondefensive-secretionsmandibular-glandsDufour's-glandmetapleural-glandsantibiotic-productiongrooming-behaviorfungal-inoculationintegumental-fungiyeast-growthlarval-groominggarden-maintenancesubstrate-preparationfecal-fertilizeranal-trophallaxiscrop-regurgitationfluid-applicationdrying-behaviornodule-formationtransplantation-behaviorgarden-establishmentceiling-gardensroot-associationarchitectural-innovationnest-site-selectionmicrohabitat-choicemoisture-requirementsthermal-bufferingpredator-avoidanceparasite-avoidancedisease-resistancesocial-immunitycollective-behaviordivision-of-labortask-allocationtemporal-polyethismworker-agenurse-workersforager-workerssoldier-caste-absencemonomorphismworker-size-variationqueen-worker-differentiationreproductive-castegyne-productionmale-productionseasonal-reproductioncolony-foundingclaustral-foundingnon-claustral-foundingfungal-inoculumfounding-queenfirst-worker-generationnutritional-dependencyfat-reservesmetabolic-adaptationdigestive-physiologyenzyme-complementfungal-enzymelignocellulose-degradationnutritional-mutualismobligate-mutualismvertical-transmissionhorizontal-transmissionsymbiont-switchingcultivar-replacementgarden-failurecolony-mortalitypopulation-turnovergeneration-timelongevitysurvivorshiplife-expectancyagingsenescencereproductive-investmentcolony-growthcolony-declinebuddingfissionreproduction-modegenetic-structurerelatednessmating-systemnuptial-flightmate-choicesperm-storagecolony-odornestmate-recognitionforeign-rejectionagonistic-behaviorterritorial-markingboundary-defenseraiding-behaviorrobbing-behaviorcleptobiosisdulosisslaveryinquilinismguest-antsmyrmecophilesnest-associatescommensalisminquilinesparasite-tolerancehost-manipulationvenom-alkaloidpyrrolidineindolizidinepiperidinenonanalfarnesenesesquiterpeneagriculture-chemicalgaster-extractchemical-diversitychemical-simplicityevolutionary-precursorderived-chemistrybiosynthetic-pathwaysemiochemicalinfochemicalcommunicationinformation-transfercolony-organizationsocial-structurepolygynyqueen-conditiondealationwing-sheddin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freeloader flies
Desmometopa is a genus of freeloader flies in the family Milichiidae containing more than 50 described species. These tiny flies are notable kleptoparasites, frequently observed feeding on prey captured by spiders, praying mantises, and assassin bugs. They appear within seconds of a predator securing prey, taking advantage of the kill without contributing to its capture. Predators generally ignore them due to their minute size.
Desmometopa varipalpis
freeloader fly
Desmometopa varipalpis is a species of freeloader fly in the family Milichiidae, described by Malloch in 1927. It is found in Europe and the Galápagos Islands. Like other members of its genus, it has been observed engaging in kleptoparasitism, feeding on prey captured by spiders and praying mantids.