A Southern Record of the Xenobiotic Ant Formicoxenus quebecensis from Eastern Wisconsin

Authors

  • Grant Navid Doering Texas Tech University, USA
  • Matthew Prebus School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i2.8374

Keywords:

biodiversity, Door County, Wisconsin, boreal ants

Abstract

The ant genus Formicoxenus is notable for the fact that all its species are xenobiotic and live inside or in close association with the nests of other ant species. Here, we report the occurrence of a colony of Formicoxenus quebecensis and its host, Myrmica alaskensis from the eastern side of the Door peninsula in Wisconsin. Both species are new records for the state, and F. quebecensis was previously known only from boreal habitats much farther north in Canada. We also provide some observations on this colony’s nest demography, morphology, and feeding behavior and discuss the ant community of this biogeographically interesting location.

 

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Published

2023-06-06

How to Cite

Doering, G. N., & Prebus, M. (2023). A Southern Record of the Xenobiotic Ant Formicoxenus quebecensis from Eastern Wisconsin. Sociobiology, 70(2), e8374. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i2.8374

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