Ant cricket

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Ant cricket
Ant cricket (Myrmecophilus acervorum), ♀

Ant cricket ( Myrmecophilus acervorum ), ♀

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Grasshoppers (Orthoptera)
Subordination : Long- probe horror (Ensifera)
Family : Ant crickets (Myrmecophilidae)
Genre : Myrmecophilus
Type : Ant cricket
Scientific name
Myrmecophilus acervorum
( Panzer , 1799)

The ant cricket ( Myrmecophilus acervorum ) is a long-feeler insect from the family of the ant cricket (Myrmecophilidae). She lives in company with ants . The species is widespread in Europe. Due to their hidden way of life and small size, the way of life and distribution have not been adequately studied.

features

Ant crickets are 2.5 to 4 millimeters long and are therefore the smallest Central European long-feeler terrors. They have an elliptically shaped, compact body that is somewhat flattened dorsoventrally . The basic color of the body is light to dark brown, but the edges of the pro- and mesonotum on the thorax are noticeably lighter in color. The wings and auditory organs are not developed, the compound eyes are not fully developed. The antennae are relatively short and strong. The thighs ( femora ) of the hind legs are very thickened. The spindle-shaped cerci protrude at right angles to both sides at the end of the abdomen. The laying tube ( ovipositor ) is strongly built. Males have not yet been identified. The species is unmistakable in Central Europe.

Some authors have distinguished two forms that differ in size; some of these were even viewed as separate species. However, since the two forms also occur side by side in the same ant nest and there are intermediate forms in between, it can be assumed that such a distinction is not justified due to the lack of taxonomically usable differences.

Ant cricket at Lasius

Occurrence

The exact distribution of the animals is poorly documented due to their hidden way of life. The species occurs at least from northern France via Luxembourg , Germany , Austria , Poland , Hungary , the Czech Republic , Slovakia and Romania to Russia . The species is currently spreading strongly at its north-westerly distribution limit, there has been an increase in records in North Rhine-Westphalia and the first record from the Netherlands has become known. In southern Europe and North Africa there are other species of the genus Myrmecophilus that are very similar to Myrmecophilus acervorum . The animals live in different habitats, such as parks and forests, on poor grasslands , in gravel pits, on industrial sites and on open fields, but also in settlement areas. They are found almost exclusively in ant nests and only rarely apart from them.

Way of life

Ant cricket while cleaning

The ant cricket lives together with ants . It is an equiline , but not a parasite , as is often stated in the literature. Only a few individual observations under laboratory conditions are known about food intake; it probably eats everything that can be used in the nest. So far, except for the primeval ants (Ponerinae), it has been found in ground-dwelling genera of all other Central European subfamilies, such as Myrmica , Tetramorium , Tapinoma , Formica or Lasius ; however, the latter are particularly preferred. The ant cricket is probably tolerated in the nests, as they can take on the individual odor of a nest. Tests have shown that they behave very cautiously and very quickly evade contact with ants when they are placed in a foreign nest.

Reproduction

The animals have neither stridulation nor hearing organs and do not make any sounds. It is assumed that the species, unlike the other members of the genus, reproduces exclusively parthenogenetically , as no male ant crickets have yet been found. The eggs are laid one at a time, with at least 24 hours between laying eggs. It takes two years to develop into an adult insect. The adults are found from April to October, and they probably also overwinter.

Hazard and protection

The way of life, distribution and habitat requirements of the ant cricket have only been insufficiently researched. Since the species adopts unspecific habitats and uses non-endangered species of ants, and even occurs more frequently as a culture follower in gardens and on industrial sites, there is no need to assume a threat. In Germany, the species is classified in the Red List in category "D", "insufficient data".

swell

  1. ↑ a b c Thomas Hörren, Sven Bodingbauer, Julian Enß, Tobias Rautenberg: Die Ameisengrille Myrmecophilus acervorum (Panzer, 1799) in the Ruhr area and its current distribution in North Rhine-Westphalia (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpoidea: Myrmecophilidae) (=  Series Naturalis . No. 2019, 1 ). ISSN  1868-6524 , p. 1-8 . ( researchgate.net ).
  2. ↑ Common ant cricket - Myrmecophilus acervorum. Retrieved June 3, 2020 .

literature

  • Heiko Bellmann : Der Kosmos Heuschreckenführer, The species of Central Europe safely determine , Franckh-Kosmos Verlag GmbH & Co KG, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-440-10447-8 .
  • Peter Detzel: The locusts of Baden-Württemberg. Verlag Eugen Ulmer GmbH & Co, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-8001-3507-8 .
  • Eva Junker (1997): Studies on the way of life and development of Myrmecophilus acervorum (Panzer 1799) (Saltatoria: Myrmecophilidae). - Articulata 12 (2): 93-106.

Web links

Commons : Ant cricket  - album with pictures, videos and audio files