Inquilinism

Inquilines are permanent parasites of other ants, but without slavery. They depend on workers of other ant species for their development and growth.

Workers in inquilines species can be present or absent. In workerless inquilines, queens are entirely dependent on their hosts for food and their eggs are cared for and raised to maturity by the host workers.

The biology of Tetramorium inquilinum provides natural history information about one representative workerless inquiline ant.

Known Inquilines

Temporary Parasite	Host	Locality	Source	Notes
Acromyrmex insinuator	Acromyrmex octospinosus		de la Mora et al., 2021; Lambardi et al., 2007; Rabeling et al., 2015; Sumner et al., 2004
Bothriomyrmex decapitans	Tapinoma
Camponotus ruseni	Camponotus oertzeni	Turkey	de la Mora et al., 2021; Karaman & Kiran, 2022
Camponotus universitatis	Camponotus aethiops		de la Mora et al., 2021; Espadaler, 1981; Guillem et al., 2014; Karaman et al., 2013; Tinaut et al., 1992; Seifert, 2018
Camponotus universitatis	Camponotus pilicornis		Espadaler, 1981; Tinaut et al., 1992; Seifert, 2018
Cataglyphis hannae	Cataglyphis bicolor
Cataglyphis zakharovi	Cataglyphis setipes
Crematogaster limata	Gnostus		Wheeler, 1986
Dorymyrmex reginicula	Dorymyrmex bossutus			possible host, needs confirmation
Dorymyrmex reginicula	Dorymyrmex bureni
Ectatomma parasiticum	Ectatomma tuberculatum		de la Mora et al., 2021; Feitosa et al., 2008; Feneron et al., 2013; Hora et al., 2005; Hora et al., 2009
Formica exsectoides	Formica fusca
Formica exsectoides	Formica subsericea
Monomorium ellenarium	Cataglyphis nodus	Azerbaijan	Shigayev & Snegovaya, 2022
Myrmica colax	Myrmica striolagaster	Texas, United States	de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010
Myrmica ereptrix	Myrmica aimonissabaudiae	Kashmir, India	de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010
Myrmica hirsuta	Myrmica lonae	Europe	de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010	workers rare
Myrmica hirsuta	Myrmica sabuleti		de la Mora et al., 2021; Elmes, 1978; Jansen et al., 2010	workers rare
Myrmica latra	Myrmica aimonissabaudiae	India	Bharti et al., 2016; de la Mora et al., 2021
Myrmica nefaria	Myrmica rupestris	India	de la Mora et al., 2021; Bharti, 2012; Radchenko and Elmes, 2010
Oxyepoecus inquilinus	Pheidole radoszkowskii		Delsinne et al., 2011
Pheidole inquilina	Pheidole pilifera		de la Mora et al., 2021; Wilson, 2003
Pheidole lucida	Pheidole madecassa	Madagascar	Fischer et al., 2020
Pheidole oculata	Pheidole veteratrix	Madagascar	Fischer et al., 2020
Polyrhachis lama	Diacamma sp.		Maschwitz et al., 2000
Solenopsis daguerrei	Solenopsis invicta		de la Mora et al., 2021; Briano et al. 1997; Calcaterra et al. 2000; Dedeine et al., 2005; Santschi 1930
Solenopsis daguerrei	Solenopsis macdonaghi		Santschi 1930; Briano et al. 1997; Calcaterra et al. 2000
Solenopsis daguerrei	Solenopsis quinquecuspis		de la Mora et al., 2021; Briano et al. 1997; Calcaterra et al. 2000; Dedeine et al., 2005; Santschi 1930
Solenopsis daguerrei	Solenopsis richteri		de la Mora et al., 2021; Briano et al. 1997; Calcaterra et al. 2000; Santschi 1930
Solenopsis enigmatica	Pheidole antillana	Dominica	de la Mora et al., 2021; Deyrup & Prusak, 2008
Strongylognathus karawajewi	Tetramorium caespitum		de la Mora et al., 2021; Radchenko, 1991; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000	sometimes as ''Tetramorium'' cf. ''caespitum''
Strongylognathus karawajewi	Tetramorium ferox		Radchenko, 1991; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000
Strongylognathus karawajewi	Tetramorium impurum		de la Mora et al., 2021; Radchenko, 1991; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000	as ''Tetramorium'' cf. ''impurum''
Strongylognathus karawajewi	Tetramorium inerme		Radchenko, 1991; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000
Strongylognathus karawajewi	Tetramorium moravicum		de la Mora et al., 2021; Radchenko, 1991; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000
Strongylognathus karawajewi	Tetramorium sulcinode		de la Mora et al., 2021; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000
Strongylognathus testaceus	Tetramorium alpestre		de la Mora et al., 2021; Seifert, 2018
Strongylognathus testaceus	Tetramorium brevicorne		de la Mora et al., 2021; Novák & Sadil, 1941; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 1996; Seifert, 2018
Strongylognathus testaceus	Tetramorium caespitum		de la Mora et al., 2021; Novák & Sadil, 1941; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 1996; Seifert, 2018
Strongylognathus testaceus	Tetramorium ferox		de la Mora et al., 2021; Novák & Sadil, 1941; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Seifert, 1996; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 2018	sometimes as ''Tetramorium'' cf. ''ferox''
Strongylognathus testaceus	Tetramorium impurum		de la Mora et al., 2021; Novák & Sadil, 1941; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Seifert, 1996; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 2018; Wagner et al. 2017
Strongylognathus testaceus	Tetramorium moravicum		de la Mora et al., 2021; Novák & Sadil, 1941; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 1996; Seifert, 2018	sometimes as ''Tetramorium'' cf. ''moravicum''
Strumigenys inquilina	Strumigenys lujae
Temnothorax curtisetosus	Temnothorax antigoni	Turkey	Salata & Borowiec, 2015
Temnothorax curtisetosus	Temnothorax oreades	Cyprus	Salata et al., 2024
Temnothorax mongolicus	Temnothorax nassonovi	Russian Federation	Antonov et al., 2024	co-occur in nests, relationship details unknown
Temnothorax nassonovi	Temnothorax mongolicus	Russian Federation	Antonov et al., 2024	co-occur in nests, relationship details unknown
Tetramorium aspina	Tetramorium immigrans	Turkey	de la Mora et al., 2021; Wagner et al., 2018
Tetramorium buschingeri	Tetramorium chefketi	Bulgaria	de la Mora et al., 2021; Kiran et al., 2017
Tetramorium microgyna	Tetramorium sepositum
Tetramorium microgyna	Tetramorium sericeiventre
Tetramorium seiferti	Tetramorium chefketi	Turkey	de la Mora et al., 2021; Kiran et al., 2017

Known Workerless Inquilines

Temporary Parasite	Host	Locality	Source	Notes
Acromyrmex ameliae	Acromyrmex brunneus		de la Mora et al., 2021; De Souza et al., 2007
Acromyrmex ameliae	Acromyrmex subterraneus		de la Mora et al., 2021; De Souza et al., 2007; De Souza et al., 2011; Rabeling et al., 2015; Soares et al., 2010
Acromyrmex charruanus	Acromyrmex heyeri	Uruguay	de la Mora et al., 2021; Rabeling et al., 2015
Acromyrmex fowleri	Acromyrmex rugosus	Brazil	de la Mora et al., 2021; Rabeling et al., 2019; Sumner et al., 2004	Sumner et al. (2004) report as ''Pseudoatta'' sp.
Formica talbotae	Formica obscuripes
Leptothorax faberi	Leptothorax
Leptothorax kutteri	Leptothorax acervorum
Leptothorax pacis	Leptothorax acervorum		Buschinger et al., 1981
Leptothorax paraxenus	Leptothorax sp. B		Heinze & Alloway, 1992
Leptothorax wilsoni	Leptothorax
Monomorium hospitum	Monomorium floricola	Singapore	Viehmeyer, 1916
Monomorium inquilinum	Monomorium cyaneum
Monomorium pergandei	Monomorium emarginatum	United States	Stefan Cover (unpublished)	host originally given as Monomorium minimum
Monomorium talbotae	Monomorium minimum
Mycocepurus castrator	Mycocepurus goeldii	Brazil	de la Mora et al., 2021; Rabeling & Bacci, 2010; Rabeling et al., 2014
Myrmica alaskensis	Myrmica lampra
Myrmica alaskensis	Myrmica quebecensis
Myrmica babiensis	Myrmica aloba	Spain	García et al. (2024)
Myrmica kabylica	Myrmica cagnianti	Algeria	de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010
Myrmica karavajevi	Myrmica gallienii		de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010
Myrmica karavajevi	Myrmica lonae		de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010
Myrmica karavajevi	Myrmica rugulosa		de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010
Myrmica karavajevi	Myrmica sabuleti		de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010
Myrmica karavajevi	Myrmica scabrinodis		de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010
Myrmica lampra	Myrmica alaskensis	Quebec, Canada	de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010
Myrmica laurae	Myrmica sabuleti		Mei, 1987	identification needs confirmation
Myrmica laurae	Myrmica scabrinodis	central Italy	de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010
Myrmica laurae	Myrmica spinosior	central Italy	de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010
Myrmica lemasnei	Myrmica spinosior	Pyrenees	de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010	misidentified as ''Myrmica sabuleti''
Myrmica myrmicoxena	Myrmica lobulicornis	Austria, Switzerland	de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010; Radchenko & Elmes, 2003; Seifert, 2018
Myrmica quebecensis	Myrmica alaskensis	northeastern North America	de la Mora et al., 2021; Jansen et al., 2010
Myrmica yadori	Myrmica jessensis	Japan	Terayama et al., 2024
Nylanderia deceptrix	Nylanderia parvula	United States	de la Mora et al., 2021; Messer et al., 2016
Nylanderia deyrupi	Nylanderia wojciki	United States	Messer et al., 2020
Nylanderia parasitica	Nylanderia faisonensis	United States	Messer et al., 2020
Pheidole acutidens	Pheidole nitidula	Brazil	Casadei Ferreira et al., 2016; de la Mora et al., 2021; Ferreira et al., 2016; Wilson, 2003
Pheidole elecebra	Pheidole ceres		de la Mora et al., 2021; Wilson, 2003
Pheidole kusnezovi	Pheidole susannae
Plagiolepis ampeloni	Plagiolepis pallescens		de la Mora et al., 2021; Seifert, 2018
Plagiolepis delaugerrei	Plagiolepis pallescens	Corsica, France	Casevitz-Weulersse, 2014
Plagiolepis grassei	Plagiolepis pygmaea		de la Mora et al., 2021; Schifani, 2017; Trontti, 2006
Plagiolepis xene	Plagiolepis pygmaea		Aron et al., 2004; de la Mora et al., 2021; Mardulyn et al., 2014; Passera et al., 2001; Seifert, 2018; Trontii, 2006
Plagiolepis xene	Plagiolepis sp. (taurica group)		de la Mora et al., 2021; Seifert, 2018
Pogonomyrmex anergismus	Pogonomyrmex barbatus
Pogonomyrmex anergismus	Pogonomyrmex rugosus
Pogonomyrmex colei	Pogonomyrmex rugosus
Pseudoatta argentina	Acromyrmex balzani			need confirmation
Pseudoatta argentina	Acromyrmex heyeri		de la Mora et al., 2021; Rabeling et al., 2015
Pseudoatta argentina	Acromyrmex lundii		de la Mora et al., 2021; Rabeling et al., 2015
Pseudomyrmex inquilinus	Pseudomyrmex			''Pseudomyrmex'' species PSW-64
Pseudomyrmex leptosus	Pseudomyrmex ejectus		Ward, 1985; Klein, 1987
Solenopsis phoretica	Pheidole dentata	Florida, United States	Davis & Deyrup, 2006	need confirmation
Strumigenys inopina	Strumigenys sp.	Florida, United States	Deyrup & Cover, 1998	need confirmation
Strumigenys xenos	Strumigenys perplexa
Tapinoma incognitum	Tapinoma sessile	United States	Cover & Rabeling, 2024
Tapinoma inflatiscapus	Tapinoma sessile	United States	Cover & Rabeling, 2024
Tapinoma pulchellum	Tapinoma sessile	United States	Cover & Rabeling, 2024
Tapinoma shattucki	Tapinoma sessile	United States	Cover & Rabeling, 2024
Temnothorax adlerzi	Temnothorax exilis	Greece	Douwes et al., 1988; Báthori et al., 2024
Temnothorax birgitae	Temnothorax gracilicornis	Canary Islands	Schulz, 1994; Báthori et al., 2024
Temnothorax birgitae	Temnothorax gracilicornis nivarianus	Canary Islands	Schulz, 1994; Báthori et al., 2024
Temnothorax corsicus	Temnothorax exilis		Báthori et al., 2024
Temnothorax kinomurai	Temnothorax makora
Temnothorax minutissimus	Temnothorax curvispinosus		Beibl et al., 2005; Buschinger & Linksvayer, 2004; de la Mora et al., 2021; Johnson et al., 2008
Tetramorium albenae	Tetramorium kephalosi	Greece	Salata et al., 2023
Tetramorium atratulum	Tetramorium caespitum		Buschinger, 1995; de la Mora et al., 2021; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 2018; Wagner et al., 2017
Tetramorium atratulum	Tetramorium chefketi		de la Mora et al., 2021; Lapeva-Gjonova et al., 2012
Tetramorium atratulum	Tetramorium diomedeum		Buschinger, 1995; de la Mora et al., 2021; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 2018; Wagner et al., 2017
Tetramorium atratulum	Tetramorium immigrans		de la Mora et al., 2021; Seifert, 2018; Wagner et al., 2017	rare host
Tetramorium atratulum	Tetramorium impurum		Buschinger, 1995; de la Mora et al., 2021; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 2018; Wagner et al., 2017
Tetramorium atratulum	Tetramorium moravicum		Buschinger, 1995; de la Mora et al., 2021; Lapeva-Gjonova et al., 2012; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 2018; Wagner et al., 2017
Tetramorium inquilinum	Tetramorium alpestre		de la Mora et al., 2021; Seifert, 2018
Tetramorium inquilinum	Tetramorium impurum		de la Mora et al., 2021; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 2018	Seifert (2018) suggests probable host
Tetramorium kutteri	Tetramorium sp.
Vollenhovia nipponica	Vollenhovia emeryi	Japan	de la Mora et al., 2021; Kinomura, 1992; Ohkawara & Aonuma, 2016

References

• Buschinger, A. 2009. Social parasitism among ants: a review (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 12: 219-235.
• Heinze. J. & Kauffmann, S. 1993. The socially parasitic ants of Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Zoology in the Middle East 8: 31-35.
• Schulz, A. & Sanetra, M. 2002. Notes on the socially parasitic ants of Turkey and the synonymy of Epimyrma. Entomofauna, 23, 14: 157-172.