First record and new host record of the obligate dulotic ant, Polyergus bicolor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in Alberta, Canada

Authors

  • Christine E. Sosiak Federated Department of Biology New Jersey Institute of Technology/Rutgers-Newark Newark, NJ
  • Mari West
  • James R.N. Glasier

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v133i4.2381

Keywords:

Polyergus bicolor, dulotic parasitism, range expansion, host expansion, Alberta, Formica podzolica

Abstract

We describe the discovery of Polyergus bicolor, an obligate slave-making ant species, as a new provincial record in Alberta. This species was previously known mostly from eastern Canada and the northeastern United States and has been sparsely collected: only once in the past 50 years. Polyergus bicolor was discovered parasitizing Formica podzolica, which is also a new host for the species. This discovery marks a significant expansion of both range and host for P. bicolor.

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Published

2020-05-08

Issue

Vol. 133 No. 4 (2019)

Section

Notes

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