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)
 * Temporary parasitism (only during the time of colony foundation)
 * Permanent parasitism with slavery (dulosis)
 * Perrmanent parasitism without slavery (inquilinism)