Strikingly malformed host morphology: Myrmica rugulosa Nyl. and Myrmica sabuleti Mein. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) parasitised by mermithid nematodes

Abstract

*[Mermithid nematode infestation of Myrmica rugulosa Nyl. & M. sabuleti Mein. is reported. Parasitogenic morphological anomalies of these 2 ant species are described for the first time. Two infected M. rugulosa males & a female worker-like individual of M. sabuleti were found outside their nests in the Pieniny Mts, southern Poland. The latter individual was recognized as a gynaecoid mermithergate caused by the mermithid parasitism. Mermithogenic malformation of the infected M. sabuleti female is discussed in the context of its developmental origin. Emphasis is also placed on possible taxonomic difficulties in the determination of Myrmica Latr. specimens infected by the mermithids as well as the risk of erroneous descriptions of taxa based on such parasitogenic forms.]