Are Facehugger Mites Bad For Ants?
WouterDespite the fact that fire ants are well-studied by scientists, it is still not known what arthropods and microbes are present in their nests. It is possible that some of these organisms are beneficial. However, it is also possible that some of them are destructive.
There are many species of mites that live on ants. They are small arachnids, and they typically attach themselves to the ant’s body and use it for transportation. They are known to attack soft tissues near the petiole-gaster joint.
There are also parasitic wasps that inject eggs into ant lions. These wasps are known to be extremely bizarre. They use Dufour’s gland, which secretes pheromones, to mimic touch signals from other ants. They then inject eggs into the metamorphosing residents.
The Amphotis beetle regurgitates food from the ant’s head, and takes advantage of foraging ants. The velvet ant is a parasitioid wasp that causes skin necrosis and is easily confused for a true ant.
Another interesting species is the Texas Redheaded Centipede, which lives in the southwestern United States. This centipede is a nocturnal predator that feeds on other invertebrates.
The golden nicoletiid silverfish is another small parasitic species. It feeds on debris, regurgitated food, and ants. Its odour is similar to the odour of the nest. It can mimic the presence of other ants and may be present during ant alate flights.
These are just a few of the many different species of arthropods that live in fire ants’ nests. Scientists have spent decades studying fire ant biology. They haven’t yet determined which arthropods are beneficial and which are destructive.
