Ants use partner specific odors to learn to recognize a mutualistic partner.
Regulation via interspecific communication is an important for the maintenance of many mutualisms. However, mechanisms underlying the evolution of partner communication are poorly understood for many mutualisms. Here we show, in an ant-lycaenid butterfly mutualism, that attendant ants selectively learn to recognize and interact cooperatively with a partner. Workers of the ant Pristomyrmex punctatus learn to associate cuticular hydrocarbons of mutualistic Narathura japonica caterpillars with food rewards and, as a result, are more likely to tend the caterpillars. However, the workers do not learn to associate the cuticular hydrocarbons of caterpillars of a non-ant-associated lycaenid, Lycaena phlaeas, with artificial food rewards. Chemical analysis revealed cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of the mutualistic caterpillars were complex compared with those of non-ant-associated caterpillars. Our results suggest that partner-recognition based on partner-specific chemical signals and cognitive abilities of workers are important mechanisms underlying the evolution and maintenance of mutualism with ants.
Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan ; Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan ; Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Masaru K
MK
Hojo
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan.
Ari
A
Yamamoto
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan.
Toshiharu
T
Akino
Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan ; The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
Kazuki
K
Tsuji
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan.
Ryohei
R
Yamaoka
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000502:physiology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002080:Butterflies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D012201:Reward; D013045:Species Specificity; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology*
D006838:Hydrocarbons