Social Parasitism

Social parasitism in ants is the coexistence of two or more ant species in one nest or colony, whereby the parasitic species lives in obligatory or facultative, permanent or temporary, dependence of one or several host species. Various forms of social parasitism have been distinguished:
 * Xenobiosis (guest ants) - The biology of Formicoxenus nitidulus provides natural history information about one representative guest ant.
 * Temporary parasitism (only during the time of colony foundation) - The biology of Lasius umbratus provides natural history information about one representative temporarily parasitic ant.
 * Permanent parasitism with slavery (dulosis) - The biology of Temnothorax brunneus provides a representative account of dulosis.
 * Permanent parasitism without slavery (inquilinism) - The biology of Teleutomyrmex schneideri provides natural history information about one representative inquiline ant.

Parasitic Ant Species
This information has been modified from [http://www.myrmecologicalnews.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=315:myrmecol-news-12-219-235-online-earlier&Itemid=81&layout=default Buschinger, A. (2009) Social parasitism among ants: a review. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 12: 219-235.] Please cite the original publication as the source for this data.

Names, taxonomy, type of parasitism, and species range.

dDul = degenerate dulosis; Dul = dulosis, slave-maker; In = inquilinism; Tp = temporary parasitism; Xen = xenobiosis, guest ant.