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Issue: Vol. 5849 No. 2: 13 Jul. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-07-13
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5849.2.7
Page range: 239-249
Abstract views: 327
PDF downloaded: 21

A novel inquiline social parasite ant species of Plagiolepis Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) possessing two queen morphs

Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwest Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; College of Plant Protection; Northwest A&F University; Yangling; Shaanxi 712100; China
College of Forestry; Northwest A&F University; Yangling; Shaanxi 712100; China
Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwest Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; College of Plant Protection; Northwest A&F University; Yangling; Shaanxi 712100; China
Hymenoptera social parasite inquilinism Plagiolepis new species phylogenetic relationships

Abstract

Social parasitism in ants has always been astonishing, showing us the complex interspecific relationships and riveting behavior. Inquilinism, the most extreme parasitic form of social parasitism, is characterized by the loss of the worker caste in most inquiline species and complete dependence on the host species. Inquiline parasites in the genus Plagiolepis Mayr of Formicidae have been reported primarily from Europe. No species of Plagiolepis has been identified as a social parasite in China and adjacent regions so far. Here, we describe a novel inquiline social parasite ant, Plagiolepis samanis sp. nov., from China, which is unusual in possessing two queen morphs—a first report for a parasitic species of Plagiolepis. We also reconstruct the phylogeny of related species to clarify the relationship of this new species with its host and other congeners. Our results indicate that P. samanis sp. nov. and its host P. manczshurica have a close genetic relationship, indicating that Plagiolepis parasites share a common ancestor with their Plagiolepis hosts. Remarkably, Plagiolepis samanis sp. nov. has two types of queens, i.e., wingless queens and winged queens, which is reported for inquiline parasites of Plagiolepis for the first time. The potential “division of labor” between the two queen morphs adopting a parasitic lifestyle is discussed.

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How to Cite

Bai, H., He, H. & Wei, C. (2026) A novel inquiline social parasite ant species of Plagiolepis Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) possessing two queen morphs. Zootaxa, 5849 (2), 239–249. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5849.2.7