Chapter 13 Symbioses With Other Arthropods Summary

This chapter considers symbiosis between ants and non-ant arthropods, continuing the theme of species communities, which began in Chapter 11. "[A]nt guests, commonly known as myrmecophiles, include a great variety of beetles, mites, collembolans, flies, and wasps, as well as less abundant representatives of a wide range of other insect groups" (p. 471). Myrmecophile studies typically divide species into five behavioral categories, including: synechthrans, or predators that elicit attacks; synoeketes, or predators that do not elicit attacks; symphiles, or "true" guests; ectoparasites and endoparasites; and trophobionts, or species that provide their hosts with a benefit such as food in return for a benefit such as protection.

The enormous diversity of myrmecophiles is noted, and the numerous guests of army ants are presented as a detailed case study. For example, among myrmecophilous mites alone, Circocyllibanidae species ride...