title: Ant-lepidopteran associations along African forest edges.
abstract: Working along forest edges, we aimed to determine how some caterpillars can co-exist with territorially dominant arboreal ants (TDAAs) in tropical Africa. We recorded caterpillars from 22 lepidopteran species living in the presence of five TDAA species. Among the defoliator and/or nectarivorous caterpillars that live on tree foliage, the Pyralidae and Nymphalidae use their silk to protect themselves from ant attacks. The Notodontidae and lycaenid Polyommatinae and Theclinae live in direct contact with ants; the Theclinae even reward ants with abundant secretions from their Newcomer gland. Lichen feeders (lycaenid; Poritiinae), protected by long bristles, also live among ants. Some lycaenid Miletinae caterpillars feed on ant-attended membracids, including in the shelters where the ants attend them; Lachnocnema caterpillars use their forelegs to obtain trophallaxis from their host ants. Caterpillars from other species live inside weaver ant nests. Those of the genus Euliphyra (Miletinae) feed on ant prey and brood and can obtain trophallaxis, while those from an Eberidae species only prey on host ant eggs. Eublemma albifascia (Erebidae) caterpillars use their thoracic legs to obtain trophallaxis and trophic eggs from ants. Through transfer bioassays of last instars, we noted that herbivorous caterpillars living in contact with ants were always accepted by alien conspecific ants; this is likely due to an intrinsic appeasing odor. Yet, caterpillars living in ant shelters or ant nests probably acquire cues from their host colonies because they were considered aliens and killed. We conclude that co-evolution with ants occurred similarly in the Heterocera and Rhopalocera.
authors.affiliation: Ecolab, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, UPS-ECOLAB, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France. alain.dejean@wanadoo.fr.|CNRS, UMR EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, Cirad, INRA, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, 97310, Kourou, France. alain.dejean@wanadoo.fr.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dejean
authors.affiliation: Ecolab, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, UPS-ECOLAB, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azémar
authors.affiliation: , 8 rue Henry Barbet, 76000, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libert
authors.affiliation: Ecolab, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, UPS-ECOLAB, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Compin
authors.affiliation: CNRS, UMR EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, Cirad, INRA, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, 97310, Kourou, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hérault
authors.affiliation: CNRS, UMR EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, Cirad, INRA, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, 97310, Kourou, France.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orivel
authors.affiliation: , 57 rue Genot, 4032, Chênée, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bouyer
authors.affiliation: CNRS, UMR Laboratoire Microorganismes, Génome et Environnement, Université Blaise Pascal, Complexe Scientifique des Cézeaux, 63177, Aubière Cedex, France.|Université Clermont Auvergne, Université Blaise Pascal (LMGE), 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Corbara
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002080:Butterflies / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva; D047011:Silk / Q000502:physiology; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D047011:Silk
keywords: Alchornea; Cuckoo strategy; Euphorbiaceae; Lepidoptera; Myrmecophily; Territorially dominant arboreal ants