Myrmecophiles - Guests of the ants
Myrmecophiles are organisms that live in close association with ants and benefit from their nests or company
A typical representative of myrmecophiles in Formica nests is the beetle Lomechusa paradoxa
Myrmecophiles in ant mounds
Formica nest mounds form long-lasting habitat islands that host an extremely diverse fauna of symbiotic arthropods that is unmatched in other European ant
Diversity
Over 100 arthropod species are obligate myrmecophiles, entirely dependent on wood ants for survival; many others are opportunistic associates of the ants, for whom the nests provide better conditions than the general woodland soil and litter. Every nest mound supports a local community of myrmecophiles spanning several trophic levels, including detritivores, scavengers, parasites and predators.
Interaction
Many of these species interact with the host by feeding on the brood or stealing collected prey. Some myrmecophiles also feed on organic nest material or fungi and some myrmecophiles are specialised predators of other myrmecophiles in the nest.
Myrmecophile
Diversity
Among the many species of myrmecophiles in wood ant mounds, there is a huge diversity of form and colours.
