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When attempts at robbing prey turn fatal.

Alain Dejean1, Bruno Corbara, Frédéric Azémar

  • 1CNRS, Écologie des Forêts de Guyane (UMR-CNRS 8172), Campus agronomique, BP 316, 97379, Kourou cedex, France. alain.dejean@wanadoo.fr

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Summary

Predatory ants like Azteca andreae capture nearly all insects that attempt to steal their prey. This study reveals that stealing from these ants is a fatal mistake for most kleptoparasites.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Predator-Prey Dynamics

Background:

  • Arboreal ants that hunt in groups often leave captured insect prey exposed for extended periods.
  • This vulnerable prey attracts opportunistic flying insects, known as cleptobionts, increasing predation risk for the ants.
  • The effectiveness of the ant species as a predator influences the success rate of cleptobiont attempts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the risk and success rate of cleptobiont attacks on prey held by the group-hunting arboreal ant Azteca andreae.
  • To determine the defensive capabilities of Azteca andreae against kleptoparasitic insects.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study of Azteca andreae workers hunting and handling insect prey in their natural arboreal habitat.
  • Quantification of cleptobiont interactions and capture rates when attempting to steal prey.
  • Analysis of the 'Velcro®' principle used by ants for secure prey capture on host tree leaves.

Main Results:

  • A high percentage (97.1%) of potential cleptobionts (268 out of 276) were captured by Azteca andreae workers.
  • Ant workers utilize group hunting and a unique clinging mechanism to secure large prey.
  • Exceptions included a social wasp and some Trigona spp. workers and flies that could escape immediate attack.

Conclusions:

  • Attempting to steal prey from Azteca andreae is a highly dangerous and often fatal endeavor for cleptobionts.
  • The presence of captured prey acts as a lure, leading to further successful predation by the ants.
  • Azteca andreae demonstrates remarkable predatory efficiency, effectively deterring and capturing kleptoparasites.