Venom Function of a New Species of Megalomyrmex Forel, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

ABSTRACT: Alkaloids are important metabolites found across a variety of organisms with diverse ecological functions. Of particular interest are alkaloids found in ants, organisms well known for dominating the ecosystems they dwell in. Within ants, alkaloids are found in venom and function as potent weapons against heterospecific species. However, research is often limited to pest species or species with parasitic lifestyles and thus fails to address the broader ecological function of ant venom alkaloids. Here we describe a new species of free-living Megalomyrmex ant: Megalomyrmex peetersi sp. n. In addition, we identify its singular venom alkaloid (trans-2-butyl-5-heptylpyrrolidine) and elucidate the antibiotic and insecticidal functions of its venom. Our results show that Me

SUBMITTER: Sozanski K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7693960 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature