Ectatomma ruidum

Ectatomma ruidum is a Neotropical species of ant in the subfamily Ectatomminae.

Ectatomma ruidum
E. ruidum worker from Venezuela
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Family:
Formicidae
Subfamily:
Ectatomminae
Genus:
Ectatomma
Species:
E. ruidum
Binomial name
Ectatomma ruidum
(Roger, 1860)

Habitat and distribution

The species is found from southern Mexico to Brazil, from sea level to an altitude of 1500–1600 m, and is dominant in several ecosystems such as forests, or economically important cultivated areas. It is diurnal, earth-dwelling and nests in the soil. A study by Vásquez-Ordóñez et al. (2012) showed that a lower density of E. ruidum nests was found in the woodlands compared to the grasslands. These observations are consistent with those for the departments of Valle del Cauca and Cauca, but not for La Guajira, a drier region in the extreme north of Colombia, where a high abundance of E. ruidum nests was found in areas with higher presence of trees.[1]

Parasitism

Two species of Kapala (Eucharitidae) have been reported to parasitize this ant in Mexico, and parasitism of E. ruidum by Kapala sp. is also known from Colombia.[1]

Kleptoparasitism

E. ruidum is reported to engage heavily in kleptoparasitism (thievery) of food from neighbouring nests.[2] To achieve this, specialised workers mimic the cuticular hydrocarbon profile of the target nest.

References
  1. Vásquez-Ordóñez, Armbrecht & Pérez-Lachaud (2012).
  2. Breed et al. (1992).
  • This article incorporates text from a scholarly publication published under a copyright license that allows anyone to reuse, revise, remix and redistribute the materials in any form for any purpose: Vásquez-Ordóñez, A. A. S.; Armbrecht, I.; Pérez-Lachaud, G. (2012). "Effect of Habitat Type on Parasitism of Ectatomma ruidum by Eucharitid Wasps". Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. 2012: 1–7. doi:10.1155/2012/170483. Please check the source for the exact licensing terms.
  • This article incorporates text from a scholarly publication published under a copyright license that allows anyone to reuse, revise, remix and redistribute the materials in any form for any purpose: Breed, M. D.; Snyder, L. E.; Lynn, T. L.; Morhart, J. A. (1992). "Acquired chemical camouflage in a tropical ant". Animal Behaviour. 44: 519–523. doi:10.1016/0003-3472(92)90060-M. Please check the source for the exact licensing terms.
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